Chinese Male Kindergarten Teachers: Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction and Organisational Commitment

Abstract

In early childhood education there is an increasing focus on the issues related to male kindergarten teachers. The shortage of men entering the teaching profession, the high turnover rate, and social marginalisation pose a challenge to the recruitment and retention of male kindergarten teachers. Furthermore, an imbalance in the ratio of men and women in early childhood education can also have an impact on children's educational development, as male teachers are also seen to be beneficial to children's ongoing development. This quantitative study explores the factors affecting Chinese male kindergarten teachers' job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The results show that six influencing factors positively impact job satisfaction: public attitude, pay satisfaction, work pressure, interpersonal relationships, promotion and professional development, and physical work environment. Also, there is a positive relationship between job satisfaction and organisational commitment. There are implications for recruiting and retaining male kindergarten teachers, for early childhood education policymakers and training providers.