Teacher attrition in Bhutan

Are personal or professional factors more influential?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/f4y6aq26

Keywords:

Personal factors, push-pull-mooring theory, professional factors, secondary qualitative research, teacher attrition in Bhutan

Abstract

This study explores the rising teacher attrition rate in Bhutanese schools, examining the personal and professional factors influencing teachers’ decisions to leave the profession. The Push-Pull-Mooring (PPM) Theory serves as the theoretical framework, explaining teacher attrition through push factors that drive teachers away from their current roles, the pull factors attract them toward new professions, and the mooring factors either facilitate or hinder resignation decisions. A qualitative secondary data analysis was conducted, using existing teacher resignation information from various online platforms. Findings indicate that professional factors such as excessive workload, limited career progression, weak leadership, and policy constraints are more influential than the personal factors such as low salaries, lack of financial incentives, and parental disengagement, intensifying teachers’ job dissatisfaction.

Author Biographies

  • Tshultrim Dorji, James Cook University, Australia

    TSHULTRIM DORJI, Master of Education & Master of Business Administration. James Cook University, Brisbane, Australia. Research Interest: Education. Email: tshultrim.dorji2023@gmail.com

  • Kinley Choden , James Cook University, Australia

    KINLEY CHODEN, Master of Education & Master of Business Administration. James Cook University, Brisbane, Australia. Research Interest: Education, Email: kuencee@gmail.com

  • Nim Bidha , James Cook University, Australia

    NIM BIDHA, Master of Education & Master of Business Administration. James Cook University, Brisbane, Australia. Research Interest: Education, Email: nimbidha94@gmail.com

  • Tashi Pelden , James Cook University, Australia

    TASHI PELDEN, Master of Education & Master of Business Administration. James Cook University, Brisbane, Australia. Research Interest: Education Email: taspel2022@gmail.com

  • Tshering Dema , James Cook University, Australia

    TSHERING DEMA, Master of Education & Master of Business Administration. James Cook University, Brisbane, Australia. Research Interest: Education, Email: tsheringdemat@gmail.com

  • Sangeeta Rai, James Cook University, Australia

    DR. SANGEETA RAI, Doctorate in Education, Lecturer, Business and Law Faculty, James Cook University, Brisbane, Australia. Email: fijiwalelog@gmail.com

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Additional Files

Published

2026-05-26

Issue

Section

STEAM Education: Hearing the Voices from the Global South

How to Cite

Dorji, T., Choden, K., Bidha, N., Pelden, T., Dema, T., & Rai, S. (2026). Teacher attrition in Bhutan: Are personal or professional factors more influential?. American Journal of STEM Education, 22, 155-182. https://doi.org/10.32674/f4y6aq26