Browsing by Author "Inkinen, Eeva"

Aims. The aim of this research was to study the reasons why novice teachers decide to leave the teaching profession only a few years after graduation. Previous studies have shown the difficulties of teacher induction and the importance of support during the induction phase. Teachers' career changing has become a common issue, and has raised a conversation about the sufficiency of qualified teachers in the future. This demonstrates the importance of support during the induction phase. The purpose of this research is to increase to knowledge about the forbidding factors present in teachers' work and thus give tools to successful commitment of novice teachers. Methods. This study is a qualitative case study and phenomenological in approach. The data were collected by a semi-structured theme interview on a quitting novice teacher. The teacher's thoughts about her decision and the reasons to quit teaching were discussed during the interview. The person had worked as a teacher for a year and a half when the interview was conducted. Gathered data was analysed by using a theory-driven thematic analysis. Results and conclusions. The reasons for the teacher's quitting were influenced by the workplace, working time, amount of work and the lack of support. Due to these factors the novice teacher's image and the reality about teaching were not corresponding and giving her satisfaction from the work. The joy of teaching and the pupils were seen as a reason to not quit teaching. The teacher also had personal development targets and was too conscientious to quit teaching immediately. The call to teach and interest in education and school resisted the quitting decision. The novice teachers' decision to quit seems to have arisen from various crucial factors, both internal and external. In all, this research gave some empirical and intimate knowledge about the phenomena that have been studied very little before in Finland. The study also demonstrated current issues and important themes for further studies and development.