News24 reports that the SA Council for Educators (SACE) has commissioned an investigation to assess the mental health of teachers amid complaints of heavy teaching workloads, emotional fatigue, and burnout.
The investigation will be in conjunction with Unesco’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa. SACE explained that studies have shown that high stress levels were a primary cause of teacher burnout. A study by Stellenbosch University, released in April, found that 50% of teachers indicated a desire to leave the profession within the next 10 years due to excessive workloads and administrative burdens. The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, is also concerned about the administrative workload of teachers and has tasked the newly operationalised National Education and Training Council to immediately consider and make recommendations on how the administrative workload of teachers might be reduced.
Hailing the SACE initiative as “a timely and crucial intervention”, Dr Mashudu Ramulumo of the SA Principals Association said the sector had for far too long overlooked the psychological and emotional toll suffered by teachers. Nomusa Cembi of the SA Democratic Teachers Union said they hoped the survey results would lead to intervention programmes by the education departments to assist teachers. According to Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA, said some of the root causes of teacher stress were overcrowded classrooms and the dangers of teaching in areas wracked by gang violence, which pushed stress into overdrive, leading to burnout. Paul Sauer of the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwyersunie advised that they had established a helpline to provide support to teachers in distress.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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