Strategies to retain and motivate employees in Africa: Examining the case of the ministry of education in Zambia

Abstract

This research paper analyzes the employee’s perception on incentives and motivation for the employees of the
ministry of education (MOE) in Zambia. Concerns about educator turnover and attrition are reported widely as a
global phenomenon. The study mainly followed a qualitative and was supplemented with quantitative designs.
A self administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of (n = 436) employees in the ministry of
education. The results showed that a large portion of the respondents 308 (70.6%) perceived their job as
routine and less satisfying. Perception of recognition programs and rewards, in terms of pay checks, benefits
and non-monetary rewards seemed to be high among the respondents, 336 (77.0%) agreed to the use of
recognition programs as a form of retention. The paper highly recommends that policy makers during the
policy making process should carry out consultations in form of dialogue among identifiable employee groups.
Each category of workers should come up with proposals concerning the forms of recognition and rewards
they would want to receive. By so doing, employees will feel motivated and own the decisions through the
bottom up approach.