This paper explores stakeholders' perceptions of the motivational influences for successful indigenous teachers to stay on as teachers in the islands of the Maldives. The research employs qualitative methods of interviewing, focus-group meetings and questionnaires to collect data from local indigenous groups that included school principals, leading teachers, successful teachers, parents and students. Analysis of data indicates that the participants' perceptions of what motivated successful

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... ers to remain as teachers are largely influenced by the cultural aspects and specific island-life characteristics. It is clear that the motivational influences to stay on in the teaching profession are contextual, inter-related, inter-dependent and multifaceted but the 'double S' of motivationsalary and statusis also evident.