Kennedy Omondi Otieno and Paul Raphael Kitula
St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Arusha.
Email: omondiken2016@gmail.com & kitula07@gmail.com

Abstract: This study investigated the implication of teachers’ loan experiences on their professional conduct in public secondary schools. Specifically, the study assessed the factors for loan application among teachers and the effects of teachers’ loan experiences on their professional conduct. Social Exchange Theory and convergent mixed methods design guided the study. Targeted population of 578 comprised of 544 teachers, 16 school heads from 16 public secondary schools, 16 WEOs, TSC officer and 1 DSEO. Sample size of 94 consisted of 82 teachers selected by stratified and simple random sampling, while 5 school heads, 5 WEOs, TSC officer and 1 DSEO were selected by criterion purposive sampling. Questionnaires, interview guide and documentanalysis helped in data collection. Validity was established through expert judgment. Reliability (TQ; r=0.838) was determined using Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha method. Trustworthiness of qualitative data was established through peer debriefing and triangulation. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics in the SPSS version 25 and results were presented intables, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. From the findings, inadequate salary, school fees, emergency needs, medical expenses and supplementing income-generating activities were factors that influenced teachers’ borrowing decisions. Loan obligations created financial stress among many teachers and affected lesson preparation, classroom concentration, job satisfaction, punctuality, and relationships with students. In conclusion, excessive borrowing and heavy repayments reduce teachers’ concentration, lesson preparation, punctuality, job satisfaction, and classroom commitment, while well-planned borrowing may improve welfare and strengthen motivation. In recommendation, school heads should strengthen internal guidance and verify loan-related documents before signing.