Abstract:
Research has indicated that secondary school educators in South Africa experience
significant levels of stress, emanating from the effects of political change and the
concomitant new vision for socio-economic development in this country. These changes,
among others, duly influence the approach to teaching and learning, which in turn have
a bearing on educators' conduct. Educators experience stress from various sources, for
example, from within the immediate school environment as well as from outside the school,
which includes pressures from the community and negative media coverage.
This study aims at advancing and enhancing existing knowledge with regard to an
understanding of levels of stress and its impact on secondary school educators. In this
exploratory study a purposeful sample of twenty secondary school educators were used
to obtain information-rich responses about the real issues that affect the level of stress in
the work environment. All of these educators were exposed to a questionnaire study. This·
was followed up by interviews with five educators randomly selected from the sample, all
in an endeavour to further explore the problem under investigation.
The questionnaire study revealed the following as major stressors in the work place: lack
of parental support or involvement; lack of commitment and discipline among learners;
inadequate resources; work overload and overcrowded classes; poor relationship or
communication between ordinary educators and educators who hold management
positions; and lack of security in the work place. Furthermore, this research study
indicated that work stress does in fact affect educators' attitude and perception, work
productivity and efficiency, as well as their mental and physical health. Educators also·
expressed a strong need for psychological and administrative support from education
officials. Based on the findings, recommendations are made as to how to address and
alleviate the negative effects of high levels of stress on educators.
