WELLBEING REVIEW STRATEGY CRUCIAL TO TACKLE TEACHER DISILLUSION

As record numbers of teachers admit to considering quitting the classroom Northern Ireland teachers have called for the publication of the long-awaited Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The latest poll reports that seven in 10 teachers have thought about leaving the profession because of disruptive pupils and attendant stress.

“This poll was carried out among our colleagues in England, however, the evidence of our members sadly reflects a similar picture of anxiety and burn-out here too,” said Avril Hall Callaghan, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union.
“It is now 10 years since the Teacher Health and Wellbeing Review which took place in Northern Ireland and still we have no strategy. Its results will be long out of date and the situation has only become more urgent in the intervening decade as the pace and scale of change teachers are expected to embrace has accelerated.”

“Teaching is now widely recognised as one of the most stressful occupations and as such teachers need access to support, counselling and specific health interventions.

“Long hours, insufficient support, disruptive pupils and overcrowded classrooms are causing severe stress in teachers and damaging their mental health.

“If we lose good teachers from the profession because of a lack of support, where does it leave our pupils. If we can’t look after our teachers, who will look after our students.

More recent surveys elsewhere in the UK reveal that among teachers:
• 1 in 3 struggle to deal with disruptive pupils.
• 1 in 4 are afraid of violence from pupils or parents.
• 1 in 3 feel they have no control over their job
• 1 in 3 resort to alcohol, smoking, unhealthy eating or other substances to help them cope.
• 1 in 15 take prescribed medication to help them cope.

“There is little reason to expect that the experience of teachers in Northern Ireland is much different. However, the good news from these surveys is that most teachers still enjoy the core activity of teaching pupils – the problem is that this is being squeezed out by other demands,” continued Ms Hall Callaghan.

“The unique role of teachers and support staff and the influence they have on the development of young minds means that their motivation, commitment and emotional well being are vital elements of the learning experience.

“The culture and well being of the school community provides a backdrop to effective teaching and learning.

“The well being of teachers and support staff affects sickness and absence rates, levels of early retirement, quality and standards of teaching and ultimately the educational experience and emotional well being of young people.”