While many teachers experience considerable stress in their work, some are faring well in spite of the challenging circumstances. What do thriving schools have in common?
The challenges facing the Finnish education system are well known: learning outcomes are decreasing, teachers' job satisfaction has declined and schools are becoming increasingly differentiated. Professor Risto Hotulainen of the University of Helsinki knows these trends thoroughly. He heads the , which has been investigating learning among schoolchildren and their teaching for 30 years.
One of the current focus areas is teacher wellbeing. There is cause for concern, as research has shown that some lower secondary school teachers feel significantly stressed.
"The number one cause of stress is additional duties that teachers carry out alongside teaching. Further professional demands include rising numbers of pupils in need of support," Hotulainen explains.
At the same time, research has identified several ways to improve teachers' occupational wellbeing.
