Teachers’ motivation in public primary schools in Lao PDR: a case study of Vientiane Capital

ABSTRACT

Teachers’ motivation determines the quality of teachers and education. It is divided into three types based on self-determination theory (SDT). This study investigates the types and details of teachers’ motivation and analyses how basic psychological needs relate to them through a case study of public primary schools in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. Using statistical and qualitative analyses, this study shows that SDT must be developed to explain teachers’ motivation from two perspectives: the structure of teachers’ controlled motivation comprises introjected regulation, and teachers’ controlled motivation has a similar role to autonomous motivation in Lao PDR.

KEYWORDS:

• Teacher motivation
• self-determination theory
• factor analysis
• qualitative study
• quality of education

Acknowledgements

First, the author like to express my deepest appreciation to Professor Keiichi Ogawa for his continuous guidance and encouragement. He also appreciate Professor Kenshi Yamanouchi and Professor Masahiro Chikada for their insightful comments regarding this study. In addition, he is grateful to Dr. Bounpanh Xaymountry, Director General of Department of Planning in Ministry of Education and Sports in Lao PDR, and Mr. Anoupheng Keovongsa, Deputy Director General of Department of Planning in Ministry of Education and Sports in Lao PDR, for allowing him to conduct his field research in Lao PDR.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Taiga Yano

Taiga Yano has served as a country officer in Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, and Office for Innovation and SDGs at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He is a Ph.D. student at Kobe University’s Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies. His research focuses on educational development and the quality of teachers in developing countries, especially in Lao PDR.