ECD CHALLENGES IN UGANDA
2.1 Influence of ECD teachers’ intrinsic motivation on the academic performance of children.
Nishimura, Kawamura, & Sakurai, (2011) notes that Intrinsic motivation enables the teachers to be devoted to their profession because they view it as important specifically to themselves and therefore without being told what to do and they are able to concentrate on their work and teach leaners well. It is therefore imperative to note because of the intrinsic motivation teachers teach are able to teach the children even in harsh conditions so that to enable the leaners pass their examinations.
According to Hanus, & Fox, (2015) by teachers being intrinsically motivated their love for their work pushes them to teach with professionalism and in return they are able to teach ECD leaners in a way that enhances the leaners ability to perform well. The author further indicates that some ECD teachers join the profession with love and to this they teach the learners with love for the profession. On the same note Herbert, (2013) asserts that when teachers have love for the profession, they teach ECD pupils well and they are able to pass examination with good marks.
Intrinsic motivation is the true drive in human nature and this drives teachers in ECD level to teach leaners with enthusiasm and drive which enables the leaners to face new challenges. Their abilities are put to the test and they are eager to teach even when there are no external rewards to be won since intrinsic motivation drives teachers to develop teaching goals and this enhances leaners performance dur to teacher’s commitment to their work (Wentzel, 2017).
Velasufah, & Setiawan, (2019) stated that intrinsically motivated teachers possess the following characteristics: They engage in both mental and physical activities holistically, they remain highly focused throughout these activities with clearly defined goals, they are self-critical, they self-reflect on their own actions realistically, and they are usually relaxed and not afraid to fail during learning, this attitude and habbit enables them to teach with passion and above all they are approachable to leaners.
The motivation that teachers have in the teaching profession is usually reflected on how they handle their ECD pupils. Teachers who are intrinsically motivated they train their pupils the appropriate skills that they need to be better. Intrinsic motivation since it comes from the inside of the person it is therefore hard for and organization to enforce into a teacher (Kuvaas, & Dysvik, 2009).
Khalaila, (2015) notes that intrinsically motivated ECD teachers are able to teach with minimum supervision and this enhances quality of learning from the leaners. They always engage the leaners in ECD during the lesson time and encourage the learners to do their best in the learning period. They integrate the knowledge acquired in school with their experiences gained from outside school. They often encourage leaners to ask questions to broaden their knowledge and learn regardless of any external push factors, and they take pride in their work and express positive emotions during the teaching process this character of the intrinsically motivated teachers has the ability to enhance better teaching.
According to Xiang, Ağbuğa, Liu, & McBride, (2017), Highly intrinsically motivated teachers are able to develop concepts that allows leaners to learn better and faster. Since intrinsically motivated teachers are motivated to perform their work, they are able to develop new concepts of teaching. Nah, (2010) indicates that Intrinsically motivated kindergarten teachers in south Korean schools develop skills to be in position to understand the learners to enable them be in position to approach leaners basing on their different personality so that they can encourage the leaners to perform well in classroom.
Hanus, & Fox, (2015) indicates that teaching institutions should ensure that teachers are supported and provided with the appropriate knowledge that can enable them to develop intrinsic motivation for their profession as this has the potential on enabling the teachers to develop the required teaching skills that can enable them train the leaners well and be in position to perform well.
According to Liao, Chen, & Shih, (2019) intrinsic motivation of teachers is essential since this improves the teacher’s quality and enables the teachers to teach with passion. He further indicates that teachers who are motivated extrinsically are able to devote their time to teaching the learners better. He further, indicates that this has the potential of leading to improved performance among the leaners.
Duminy, Nguyen, & Duhaut, (2019) indicates that high intrinsic motivation and engagement in learning have consistently been linked to increased better academic performance and increased levels of leaners’ performance. Development of intrinsic motivation in ECD teachers is an important goal for educators because of its inherent importance for future motivation and enhanced quality of teaching among the teaching which enhances the leaners ability to perform well their examination.
When the ECD teachers are Intrinsically motivated they are able to work without considering much of the conditions prevailing in the work place because they know they are targeting the greater good this enhances the performance of the children in ECD classes. Ahluwalia, & Preet, (2017) further reports that intrinsically motivated teachers also transfer positive energy to the ECD pupils which drives them to perform well.
Gay, (2018) notes that intrinsic motivation nurtures and encourages the teachers to see value in their profession. When teachers are trained professionally, they see value in their profession as they develop intrinsic motivation. Due to intrinsic motivation teachers develop lifelong teaching approach due to love for their work and they are able to teach professionally and this has been observed as enhancing academic performance in south Korean schools.
According to UNESCO (2006), teachers are the most important factor in determining the quality of education that children receive. They are also the pivot on which the educational process hangs, Teachers play a major role in the whims and caprices of the educational system (Mensah, Mereku &Ghartey-Ampiah, 2008). They can influence the teaching learning outcomes either positively or negatively because they determine the quality of instructional delivery and also influence quality education when it comes to implementation of the curriculum and educational policies, therefore instrisinc motivation among the teachers is imperative to enhancve better academic performance among the leaners (Akyeampong, 2012).
Ahluwalia, A. K., & Preet, K. (2017) indicates that when there is low intrinsic motivation among the teachers the academic performance of ECD leaners is greatly affected and this affects the way the quality of learning in that school.
Sansone & Harackiewicz, (2008) indicates that intrinsic motivation of teachers enhances good quality teaching, and it is also worthy to note that good quality teaching and learning in education cannot be delivered without qualified and motivated teachers. This is the more reason why teachers should be intrinsically motivated properly for effectiveness and efficiency in the educational and school system. (Okumbe, 2010). The motivation of teacher is, therefore, very important as it directly affects the leaners. Norton, (2018) notes that teacher intrinsic motivation plays an important role in the promotion of teaching and learning excellence.
Intrinsic motivation is one of the most important keys to success in the teaching professions, when there is lack of motivation a teacher cannot be able to teach as she or he will lack interest on what he does. ECD Teachers located in the rural areas are usually lacking intrinsic motivation this has a huge influence on the performance of the leaners under their care. Lack of intrinsic motivation shows lack of enthusiasm, zest and ambition, whereas the possession of motivation is a sign of strong desire, energy and enthusiasm, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve what one sets out to do. An intrinsically motivated person is a happier person, more energetic, and sees the positive end result in his/her mind (Alfaki, & Khamis, 2018).
