Ontario teachers' reasons for choosing to teach outside Canada

Abstract

This study examines the factors that influence Ontario teachers’ decisions to teach outside Canada. Deciding factors were derived from previous studies related to career choice and career change and involved concepts such as: altruistic motives, intrinsic nature of teaching, financial and circumstantial reasons, fringe benefits and interpersonal influence. Applicants to an overseas teaching recruitment fair were selected as participants for this study. The researcher employed a mixed methods approach to research design where both quantitative and qualitative data were used in the analysis of the research problem. The study found that the decision to leave Ontario and teach outside Canada was the result of a combination of several factors. The study concluded that the most influential factors in this decision included altruistic motives, interpersonal influence and financial and circumstantial reasons.