Abstract
Escalating attrition rates among all sectors of employment negatively
impacts the efficiency of education systems globally. This dilemma has
impacted special education for decades. The departure of special
educators leaves public education systems devoid of quality educators.
Understanding the influence of job satisfaction upon employee retention
plays a vital role in developing effective teacher retention
initiatives. The purpose of this qualitative study, which consisted of
12 participants, was to determine the influencing factors of Bahamian
special educators’ withdrawal from the educational system. Job
Satisfaction and Social Cognitive Career Theory grounded this study and
emphasized the influence of educators’ experiences upon their career
decisions. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus
group, and analyzed through open coding. Findings revealed that
Bahamian special educators withdraw from special education because of
critical factors (a) lack of support, (b) inadequate training, and (c)
burnout, resulting in poor job satisfaction.