Assessing psychosocial risks in education : a case study on occupational stress among educators in the private sector

Abstract

Over the last years, education and schools in Malta have experienced significant changes as a result of relentless, often arguably unnecessary innovation, which has put high demands on teachers. The teaching profession can be both rewarding and demanding, particularly in the private sector where parents expect more from teachers since they pay directly for their children’s schooling. This qualitative study aims to shed light on the phenomenon of psychosocial risks in education, focusing on those risks, which cause occupational stress in the private sector. It draws on empirical evidence from eleven semi-structured interviews carried out with teachers having different experience levels and occupying varied positions within a specific private school. A love of children and a belief that they can help them learn, emerged as important motivators affecting the participants’ decision to join and remain in the profession. However, the Covid-19 pandemic proved to be an unprecedented source of stress for the interviewed teachers, as their participation in remote schooling experiences appears to have increased the psychosocial risks of their job. Since most of the learning and teaching is still taking place either online or in hybrid mode, the participants are being confronted by the added burden to juggle between students who are online and those who are physically in class. The pandemic has changed the participants’ job demands, as they are constantly bombarded by online communication from students, parents and school administrators. Such pressures and the fear of missing out on important school information, appear to be key drivers leading to digital stress which might lead to anxiety, depression, and even burnout. These adverse factors are proving to be major challenges for several interviewees. Thus, it is important for the school’s administration to understand that it has a duty of responsibility towards the employees and a moral requirement to provide a work environment free from psychosocial risks and work-related pressures.