Factors Related to Burnout Among Primary School Teachers

Teachers in society have been faced by circumstances that force them to perform their duties below expectations & have been the subject of criticism that has failed to take into consideration situations beyond the teacher. Blame for the shortcomings of the education system has therefore rested squarely on teachers. Reforms in the education sector have continuously put pressure on teachers as the main implementers of change in the curriculum and the free primary education programme. Stress, teaching overload and burnout are consequences of working under difficult conditions that include excessive pressure with minimal regard to the teachers coping threshhold. The purpose of the research was to investigate on some selected factors related to burnout among primary school teachers in Nakuru Municipality. Focus was based on teacher personal characteristics, working environment and the aspect of social support. Ex-post facto research design was employed with the target population being primary school teachers. The population for the study consisted of 1198 teachers. A sample of 140 teachers was chosen at random for the study. A burnout inventory was used to collect data.

Autorentext

Waweru Muriithi is a trained Counsellor & a holder of an M.Ed degree in Guidance & Counselling from Egerton University & a B.Ed degree from the University of Nairobi. He has taught in various secondary schools in Kenya & has served as a part time lecturer in Counselling psychology with the University of Nairobi & Africa Nazarene University.