Education Science ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 15-22.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Why Do Teachers From Other Provinces Choose to Settle Down in Xinjiang: A Mixed-Methods Study From the Perspective of Rational Choice Theory

Ma Yongquan1, Li Yuting2   

  1. 1. College of Educational Sciences,Yili Normal University,Yining Xinjiang 835000,China
    2. College of Educational Sciences,Xinjiang Normal University,Urumqi Xinjiang 830017,China
  • Online:2025-01-15 Published:2025-02-13

Abstract:

The retention and settlement of teachers from other provinces in Southern Xinjiang is an important guarantee for promoting the high-quality development of education in the region. This study, from the perspective of rational choice theory, analyzes the current situation and influencing factors of teachers’ settlement in southern Xinjiang. Quantitative research shows that teachers generally have a strong sense of professional identity, clear career planning, and high satisfaction with salary, school culture, and school management. As for the influencing factors, personal dedication and professional sentiment are the fundamental driving forces for them to go to southern Xinjiang. The professional attributes of teachers, salary, and benefits are important reasons for attracting them to teach across provinces. Heavy non-teaching tasks, inseparable family ties, frustrated sense of teaching achievements, career burnout, and marriage and love problems are the key obstacles affecting their retention. Case interviews found that the experience of leaving and returning to Xinjiang has, to some extent, strengthened teachers’ determination to settle in southern Xinjiang. To enhance their willingness to stay, measures are recommended, including boosting ideals and beliefs, enhancing professional achievement, strengthening humanistic care to alleviate emotional pressure, reducing non-teaching tasks, ensuring teachers are focused on educating, improving person-job fit, addressing concerns about professional development, and emphasizing systemic synergy to ignite teachers’ passion for teaching.

Key words: teachers from other provinces in Southern Xinjiang, rational choice theory, willingness to stay

CLC Number: