| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this study was to determine the demands made on primary school teachers and the pressure put on them which they subsequently experience as stressors, as well as to highlight the teachers' needs regarding the easing of the experienced pressure and the accompanying stress with the aim of formulating guidelines for teacher support with a view to promote wellness.
It is precisely those people in caring professions such as teachers who are more prone to such burn-out. Currently he media in South Africa is stressing the fact that teachers are working under excessive pressure. Furthermore, the following were indicated as the main causes of low morale among the teachers: • The method in which Outcomes Based Education was implemented; • Ongoing changes in the Educational Policy; and • Leadership and management styles of the Education Departments. The challenges to the South African teaching corps are unique due to, amongst others, the following reasons: In the last decade South Africa has experienced radical changes in education after legislation, as stated in the South African Schools' Act of 1996. Eighteen different education departments have been merged under a single ministry in order to bring about uniformity concerning curricula, qualification structures, support services and teacher training. Huge changes have set in during this transformation process which has demanded increasingly more adaptations from teachers. This led to more education policy documents being published than ever before and that had to be dealt with by teachers, or that were simply prescriptive.
These mentioned policy documents often appear confusing to teachers because the continuity thereof is often disturbed by ongoing changes of the education ministry; therefore it is essential for the speedy development of interventions in order for teachers to experience well-being. | |
