THE ROLE OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT IN ALLEVIATING WORK

128 Pages·2007·7.84 MB·English

THE ROLE OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT IN ALLEVIATING WORK-
RELATED TEACHER STRESS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

by

H W NGOBENI

Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF EDUCATION

in the subject

EDUCATION MANAGEMENT

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: DR H M VAN DER MERWE

29 NOVEMBER 2006
Student Number: 647-694-5

I declare that:

The role of the Head of Department in alleviating work-related teacher stress in
primary schools is my own work and that all the sources that I used or quoted have been
indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.

…………………………. ………………………….
Signature Date
(MR H W NGOBENI)
DEDICATION

I dedicate this piece of work to my family. Most of all to my late parents, William and
Rosinah, who had very little formal education but taught me the importance of education.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people who have contributed to my research:

• My supervisor, Dr H.M. Van der Merwe, for her patience and the inspiring
guidance and support throughout my studies. “I enjoyed working with you, Doc!”
• Professor E.M Lemmer, who edited this text and gave me exellent advice during
the final stages of the journey. Thank you professor!
• My wife, Lindi and my children, Masego and Thabo, for giving me space to
pursue my studies.
• All the teachers and Heads of Department who participated in the research study.
• The library staff of the University of South Africa, Pretoria for making literature
available to me in response to my requests during the course of study.
• Above all, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity and strength to
complete this dissertation.
SUMMARY

Work-related teacher stress is indeed a major problem in schools. The main aim of this
study was to investigate the role of the Head of Department in alleviating work-related
teacher stress among primary schools in the Temba Circuit. The research problem was
investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation. The literature
study identified the main causes of teacher related stress. A qualitative inquiry using
semi-structured focus group interviews with teachers and semi-structured individual
interviews with Heads of Department were conducted in order to find answers to the
research questions. It was found that the main sources of teacher stress could be grouped
into four main categories, namely, interpersonal, organisational, professional and
personal stressors. Guidelines to be considered by Heads of Department to alleviate the
stress that teachers under their auspices are encountering were developed on the basis of
these four categories of teacher stressors.

KEY TERMS

Head of Department
Primary school teachers
Work-related stress
Stressors
Temba Circuit
Focus groups
Qualitative research
Stress management

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

ORIENTATION

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1-2

1.2 MOTIVATION FOR RESEARCH 2

1.3 BACKGROUND TO STUDY 2
1.3.1 Work-related stress 2-3
1.3.2 The concept stress 3
1.3.3 Stress within the school environment 4-6

1.4 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 6-7
1.5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH 7
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN 8
1.6.1 Literature review 8

1.6.2 Qualitative research paradigm 8-9
1.6.2.1 Participants and sampling 9-10
1.6.2.2 Research methods 10

(1) Individual interviews 10-11
(2) Focus group interviews 11
1.6.2.3 Data analysis 12
1.7 DEMARCATION OF STUDY 12
1.8 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS 13
1.8.1 Stress 13
1.8.2 Stressor 13
1.8.3 Teacher 13-14
1.8.4 Head of Department 14
1.8.5 Primary School 14
1.8.6 Temba Circuit 15
1.9 PROGRAMME OF STUDY 15
1.10 CONCLUSION 16
CHAPTER TWO

A LITERATURE SURVEY ON TEACHER STRESS AND THE POSITION OF THE
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AS STRESS ALLEVIATOR

2.1 INTRODUCTION 17

2.2 THE CONCEPTS STRESS AND STRESSOR 18

2.2.1 Stress 18
2.2.2 Stressor 18-21

2.3 POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE STRESS 21-24
2.4 STRESS AND PERSONALITY TYPE 24-25
2.5 STRESS AND THE WORKPLACE 25
2.5.1 The inevitable presence of stress 25-26
2.5.2 The effects of work-related teacher stress 26-27

2.6 SOURCES OF STRESS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS 27
2.6.1 Role conflict 27
2.6.2 Role ambiguity 27-28
2.6.3 Workload 28
2.6.4 Relationships with colleagues 28-29
2.6.5 Change 29-31
2.6.6 New leadership roles 31-32
2.6.7 New teacher roles 32-35

2.7 THE LEADERSHIP STYLE OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT 36-39
2.8 THE ROLE OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AND STRESS 39-41
ALLEVIATION
2.9 STRESS ENCOUNTERED BY THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT 42-43
2.10 A STRESS MANAGEMENT PLAN 43-45
2.10.1 Stage A: Recognition and analysis of the problem 45
2.10.2 Stage B-planning: Generating alternative solutions 45-46
2.10.2.1Lessen the demands 46
2.10.2.2 Reduce the reaction 47
2.10.2.3 Improve stress management skills 47-48
2.10.2.4 Change attitudes 48

2.10.3 Stage C: Implementing the plans 49
2.10.4 Stage D: Evaluating the activities 49-50
2.11 CONCLUSION 50
CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: A CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK

3.1 INTRODUCTION 51
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 51-54
3.3 RESEARCH METHODS 54-58
3.4 PARTICIPANTS AND SAMPLING 58-60
3.5 DATA COLLECTION AND DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURES 59-60
3.5.1 Data collection 60-61
3.5.2 Data analysis 61-63
3.6 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF RESEARCH 63-64
3.7 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 64-65
3.8 CONCLUSION 65

CHAPTER FOUR

FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

4.1 INTRODUTION 66

4.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 67

4.3 METHODOLOGY IN BRIEF 67

4.4 WHAT WAS THE RESEARCHER LOOKING FOR? 67-68

4.5 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS 68

4.5.1 Data collection 68
4.5.2 Data analysis 68-72

4.6 RESEARCH FINDINGS 72-73

4.6.1 INTERPERSONAL STRESSORS 73

4.6.1.1 Role conflict 73-74
4.6.1.2 Head of Department as alleviator 74-75
4.6.1.3 Role ambiguity 75-76
4.6.1.4 Head of Department as alleviator 77
4.6.1.5 New teacher roles 77-78
4.6.1.6 Head of Department as alleviator 79
4.6.1.7 Poor relationships between teachers, learners and parents 79-81
4.6.1.8 Head of Department as alleviator 81-82

4.6.2 ORGANISATIONAL STRESSORS 82

4.6.2.1 Workload 82-84
4.6.2.2 Head of Department as alleviator 85
4.6.2.3 New leadership roles 85-86
4.6.2.4 Head of Department as alleviator 86

4.6.3 PROFESSIONAL STRESSORS 87
4.6.3.1 Changing environments 87
4.6.3.2 The implementation of new education policies 87-88
4.6.3.3 Head of Department as alleviator 88-89

4.6.4 PERSONAL STRESSORS 89
4.6.4.1 Challenges 89-90
4.6.4.2 Remuneration 90
4.6.4.3 Head of Department as alleviator 90-91

4.7 CONCLUSION 91

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 INTRODUCTION 92
5.2 SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS 92
5.2.1 Literature and empirical findings on the causes of work-related stress 92-94
among primary school teachers

5.2.2 Literature and empirical findings on the role of the Head of Department 95
in alleviating work-related teacher stress in primary schools

5.2.3 Literature findings on a stress management approach 96