Teachers are generally happy at work, administration is a nuisance

Eight out of ten Czech professors and teachers are satisfied at work. They perceive it as meaningful, which is reflected in their high work engagement and low burnout rates. The main contributors to their well-being are good relationships with colleagues, support from the school management, autonomy in their work and the meaningful nature of teaching. On the other hand, they perceive the high administrative burden, the difficulty of working with problematic pupils, conflicts with parents and the sometimes difficult achievement of work-life as a problem. This is based on a recently published study by the SYRI National Institute.

"Our analysis confirmed that the quality of school management is one of the most important factors influencing job satisfaction among teachers, and its further reinforcement his highly advisable, for example by developing quality leadership. The participation of teachers in decision-making processes within individual schools will certainly help," said one of the authors of the study, Jiří Mudrák of SYRI and the Psychological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Teachers are heavily burdened by administration, which SYRI experts say should be reduced in the future. Ideally, educators should focus primarily on teaching. For example, schools might consider creating administrative support positions or shared assistants to take over certain bureaucratic tasks.

"Teachers’ work often goes beyond normal working hours, leading to conflicts between professional and personal life. To alleviate this imbalance, schools should allow more flexible working hour arrangements, for example through alternatives like part-time jobs, job-sharing or home office for administrative tasks. It is also advisable to support initiatives aimed at teachers' mental health, such as relaxation and psycho-hygiene programmes, and the availability of school psychologists. Support of sports and cultural activities is also a great idea," Mudrák said.

Stress management, among other things, is a major aspect of teaching. Four out of 10 teachers said they have problems with their students. Sixteen percent of respondents perceived their relationship with parents as problematic. Experts point out that teachers' individual abilities to manage stress, maintain a positive attitude and deal effectively with work challenges play a key role in their well-being.

"Schools should offer training aimed at developing psychological capital, such as courses directed towards strengthening resilience, optimistic thinking and perceived personal effectiveness. They should also ensure that teachers have sufficient opportunities for further professional training in areas that contribute not only to their professional growth, but also to their personal development and psychological well-being," added Kateřina Zábrodská, one of the authors of the study.