Tips for reducing the workload of teaching staff.

  The workload in elementary and secondary education is high. Teachers in the Netherlands work longer hours than their colleagues in other European countries and are more often faced with large classes of 30 or more students. To express their dissatisfaction, teachers have already taken to the streets and closed their classrooms. Elementary and secondary school teachers constantly face a dilemma. Given the high pressure, it would be wise to take things a little easier. However, who ends up bearing the brunt of this? The students in the classroom. As a teacher, you want to avoid that at all costs. It would go directly against professional ethics. That’s why you make do with what you have and try to make the best of it.  

The government comes to the aid of education

The government is aware that elementary and secondary education are under pressure. The education sector has the highest percentage—22.1%—of people experiencing burnout symptoms. It has therefore been decided to allocate additional funds that can be used to reduce the workload. A school with about 225 students can count on approximately €49,000 in additional funding for the 2019-2020 school year. This money can be used, among other things, to hire additional educational support staff and to invest in IT or digital learning materials. Schools can spend the money as they see fit. This gives them the opportunity to address their own specific challenges. More money for education is great and desperately needed, but will that solve the problems? What can teachers themselves do to carry out their teaching duties with less stress and more energy?  

Tips for reducing your workload:

 

• Time management: You experience an overwhelming workload when you lack an overview. Time management can help with this. Create a solid weekly schedule, a daily to-do list, and use the time you have effectively. When you’re in control, it leads to much less stress.
• Priorities: A teacher’s most important task is to educate students. That’s where the priority lies. Your peak focus should therefore be in the classroom. All other matters take a back seat. Meetings, for example, are necessary and useful, but make them efficient. Set a time limit for meetings. You can cover just as many topics in half an hour as you would if you set aside three times as much time.
• Teamwork: Although teachers usually stand in front of the class alone, you can support one another as colleagues and work together as a team. Work together to solve the problems you encounter. Offer each other advice. As a team, you can also have a greater influence on the school plan. That way, during the school year, you’ll do things that you personally find important-not just because they’ve been mandated by school administration.
• Self-awareness: What causes you stress? When do you need help from a colleague or supervisor? What inspires you, and what motivates you? What are your competencies, and which ones do you use most in practice? Understanding these issues gives you more control over your own work situation and has a positive impact on stress levels.

  Hrmforce helps teaching staff gain greater insight into their competencies. One way to do this is by taking a competency assessment. We have also developed training programs focused on employee participation and team development for teachers. Want to learn more? Feel free to contact us with no obligation.