ASTI/RED C research shows that additional demands on second-level schools have led to an unsustainable work burden and increased levels of stress for teachers.
ASTI/RED C research published in March 2018 found that 97% of teachers believe their work intensity has increased in recent years. Some 89% of teachers say that they cannot complete their non-teaching duties during the school day and 74% say they have an unacceptable workload. In Ireland, second-level teachers spend 21 hours and 20 minutes teaching each week. The ASTI/RED C survey has found that in addition to this, teachers typically spend 20 hours and seven minutes each week engaged in non-teaching duties including lesson planning/preparation, homework/assignment marking and providing feedback, attending school meetings, and completing pastoral care duties.
In addition, most teachers undertake supervision and substitution duties, and are also required to attend a range of school events such as parent–teacher meetings and school open nights.
The survey shows that helping young people is the main source of job satisfaction for teachers. However, it also finds that overall job satisfaction has dropped sharply since the beginning of the decade. In 2009, 77% of teachers described themselves as either very satisfied or satisfied with their work compared to just 51% in 2018.
More recent ASTI research re-emphasises the challenge of teacher workload.
Over a third (34%) of classroom teachers rate their wellbeing as poor, according to a 2022 RED C/ASTI survey. Less than a third (28%) rate their wellbeing as good or very good. Teachers surveyed say workload and work intensity are the main factors impacting their wellbeing. Alarmingly, job satisfaction amongst teachers has dropped from 63 per cent in 2021 to 50 per cent in 2022. Click here for survey.