The Relationship Between School Climate And Teacher Commitment In Rural Schools

Abstract

This study surveyed the level of school climate and teacher commitment in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) in rural Malaysia, as well as the relationship between the two. The sample of the current study consisted of 450 teachers chosen through proportionate random sampling were made to answer a set of questionnaires. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the limited accessibility to the study population who were in rural areas, data were collected by post. The findings suggested that the school climate level was high (M = 4.14, SD = 0.51) and the level of teacher commitment was also at a very high level (M = 4.33, SD = 0.45). The school climate correlated with teacher commitment (r = 0.468, p < 0.05). The findings of the current study can be used by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to improve school climate and teacher commitment in order to achieve the Malaysian Education Development Plan 2013–2025. The findings will also contribute to the international literature on the relationship between school climate and teacher commitment, especially in rural schools.