From Career Choice to Career Change: Experiences of PGDE Students in Tanzania

Abstract

This article presents findings from a qualitative inquiry that explored the underlying motives of career change among Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) students in Tanzania. Focused group discussions (FGDs) were used to collect data to address two study objectives: first, explore the reasons why PGDE students tend to change their career; and second, determine PGDE students’ intentions to join and stay in the new career. The findings indicate that career change is motived by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Specifically, career change motives are due to job dissatisfaction, employment opportunities, wrong first career choice, and the desire for career growth. This article provides relevant information on career change influencers and intentions of PGDE students to join and stay in their new careers. A teacher who has moved from one career paths to another needs professional support to cope with various professional challenges. This would not only bridge the gap between becoming and being a teacher, but also make easy for them to grow professionally. Based on the findings, the article concludes that different motives for career change imply that quality teacher training, and recruitment and retention strategies in the teaching profession are worth re-thinking. The findings are discussed in the context of teacher attraction and retention in Tanzania.