Sources of Teacher Stress in Primary Schools

The object of this study was to determine sources of teacher stress in primary schools in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Data were collected using a questionnaire and interviews. The study revealed the following stressors in order of most to least stressful: curriculum changes, work load pressures, job insecurity, poor relationship with colleagues, reward and recognition, learners discipline problems, poor rapport with management and role ambiguity. Furthermore, the results showed that a combination of outside and inside factors were associated with teacher stress. In terms of inside factors, organisational stressors and classroom stressors were related with teacher stress.