Motivations of Kuwaiti Students in the College of Education in Kuwait University In Joining the Teaching Profession.

Abstract

The teaching profession in Kuwait is suffering from a shortage in Kuwaiti in comparison to non-Kuwaiti teachers. The shortage is more severe when comparing male to female Kuwaiti teachers. This study aims to search for motivations that lead Kuwaiti students in the College of Education in Kuwait University to become teachers. Motivations were divided into three categories: extrinsic, intrinsic, and altruistic. The study used a mixed method. The results in the quantitative section showed that students were mainly motivated by altruistic motivations. The results in the qualitative section, however, showed that students focus on extrinsic motivations more than altruistic motivations. These findings can be reconciled by understanding that the major extrinsic motivations were related to social traditions and family pressure, which can be considered as limitation on job options more than motivations. Intrinsic motivations had little affect on students’ decision.