Influencing Factors in Teaching Career Choices in Cambodia in Teacher Education Colleges: A Conceptual Framework

An education system should strive to attract qualified teachers and teacher candidates who have a high degree of professional commitment to meet the society requirements these days as well as, in the future, toward country development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the decision to teach career choices and aspirations among primary and lower secondary school teachers in Cambodia and student teachers at teacher education colleges (TECs). This study was synthesized from several previous studies, review papers, academic publications, public organization sources, instructional resources and empirical investigations. Four main factors, namely, the influence of others, including family, friends, teachers and mass media; motivational influences; sociocultural factors; and teaching as a fallback career, influence the decision to choose teaching as a career. The implications of the findings from the various sources have been discussed in this study. This study can help relevant people, as well as other researchers, to be aware of the influencing factors in career choice so that they can refine recruitment policies, increase their actions and efforts, and enter a preparation program for teaching careers in the Cambodian context.