Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, in collaboration with the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), teacher unions and international and multilateral partners, hosted the first ministerial virtual seminar on teacher well-being last month.
Educators often focus on supporting and nurturing others, without prioritising their own well-being. The Covid-19 pandemic has escalated challenges faced by teachers and the aim of the seminar was to take collective action towards the improvement of the physical, emotional and mental well-being of educators in South Africa.
“This seminar provides an opportunity to examine how educators can more thoughtfully and deliberately respond to the stressful outcomes posed by the Covid-19 pandemic that has impacted negatively on their health by asking thought-provoking questions about the purpose, relevance and importance of their well-being.
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“Through the holistic, year-long and wide range of activities to support teachers, the appreciation of teachers is no longer limited to a single day observed on October 5.
“Hence, we have come together to respond to Goal 17 of the DBE Action Plan: Striving for a teacher workforce that is healthy and enjoys a sense of job satisfaction,” said Motshekga.
Veronica Hofmeester, director for Continuing Professional Teacher Education (CPTD) at the DBE, said: “The DBE is committed to enhancing the psychosocial wellness of our teachers through creating resilient teachers. The pandemic has intensified the plight and has changed the role of teachers within society.
“The welfare of our teachers has been compromised They are discouraged, anxious, exhausted and suffer from burnout and fatigue. Substance abuse, violence, bullying and GBV is making it difficult for them to remain resilient in the classroom, intensifying the ‘depleted teacher crisis’.
“Teachers need to be trained on strategies of self-transformation through counselling to heal themselves firstly, and then to heal others.
“Schools can be venues where collectively strategies can be taught to eliminate organisational toxicity, interpersonal conflicts, and create and develop systems and processes for teachers to become peace carriers instead of trauma carriers.
“Buddy systems and professional learning communities should equip our teachers with the practical skills required to capacitate each other to breathe correctly, use the counselling opportunities available to them and empower themselves and others.
“It is crucial for them to receive orientation and continue feedback on their roles and responsibilities clearly defined. In addition, continued feedback will assist all with holistic wellness,” said Hofmeester.
The seminar, which formed part of a series of planned activities, aimed to honour teachers and raise awareness of the value of teaching in our society and featured international speakers from the Association for the Development of Education, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, American Federation of Teachers and Education International (Africa Region).
In addition, the seminar provided options to the uncertainties caused by the pandemic, as well as advocated and communicated the DBE health policies. Teachers and school governing bodies also attended.
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