The involvement of school management teams and teachers in managing work-related stress in selected schools, in Soutpansberg North Circuit, in Vhembe District Municipality

Abstract

This study was based on the involvement of School Management Teams and teachers in managing work-related stress in selected schools in Soutpansberg North Circuit, in Vhembe District Municipality. The South African Department of Education has been undergoing different challenges which compel an employer to play a dynamic role in improving and preserving the wellbeing of employees. School Management Teams have the responsibility to understand the causes and effects of work-related stress so that they can strategize on how to overcome them. The main aim of the study was to assess the involvement of School Management Teams and teachers in managing work-related stress in selected schools in Soutpansberg North Circuit in Vhembe District Municipality and to propose recommendations to enhance their involvement. A qualitative research approach was used to assess the involvement of School Management Teams and teachers in managing work-related stress. The study adopted a qualitative approach because it is deemed appropriate when collecting and analysing non-numerical data to understand concepts, opinions and experience. Non-probability sampling through purposive sampling was adopted to allow the researcher to focus on in-depth issues essential to the study. The population of this study comprised - School Principals, Heads of Departments (HODs), and senior teachers - of three purposively-selected primary schools in Soutpansberg North Circuit in Vhembe District Municipality. Twelve participants were selected for the study due to their experience and familiarization with the study phenomenon. Self-administered open-ended questionnaires were utilized to allow for unlimited responses and to offer qualitative data, while using thematic analysis on the data. The findings of the study shows that School Management Teams and teachers do not consult the Employee Assistance Practitioners because the former have not experienced challenges that may need such services, while others have no idea of the Employee Assistance Programme. The researcher recommends that senior managers need to initiate sub-branches of the Employee Assistance Practitioners in circuits to ease the programme’s access by all employees in an area.