Few studies have been done to determine
the effects of teachers’ depression and low morale on their students’
academic performance. However, teachers in Botswana face a daily grind
of stress-inducing pressures, from managing behavioural problems in the
classroom to working in unfavourable conditions.
Secretary of Health and Safety of
Botswana Sector of Education and Trade Union (BOSETU), Monica Legwale is
of the view that teachers need emotional support. The challenge is that
there are few or no support systems, even relevant policies provided by
schools to aid teachers in their mental health struggles. Often
teachers are left to obtain diagnosis or even counselling outside of
work.
Legwale, who has taken keen interest in
teachers’ psychological health told Edu Mail that in-school counselling
options for teachers, mentoring programmes that focus on coping with
work-related stress, and health insurance plans with comprehensive
mental health coverage are some practical ways that schools could adopt
to ensure pyschological support for the teaching staff.
Although further intense studies need to be undertaken in order to
unearth and learn more about the effects of teachers’ mental health on
their students, Legwale is optimistic that long-term interventions and
professional programmes designed to help teachers cope, will go a long
way in mitigating problems that eminate from low teacher morale and
depression. She further explains that while an Engineer or an Architect
might be able to take a walk or a coffee break when overcome with
pressure at work, by the nature of their work, teachers often do not
have the same opportunity.
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