CAUSES AND MANAGEMENT OF STRESS AMONG STUDENT TEACHERS: A CASE OF UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST, DISTANCE EDUCATION CENTRES IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The Researchers investigated into the causes, effects and management strategies of stress among University of Cape Coast Distance Education student teachers in the Central of Ghana. The study employed the Phenomenology approach to provide insights into the sources of stress and how it can be managed to reduce its negative effects on student teachers and their performance in the classroom. Purposive sampling technique was used to select Twentyeight (28) participants for the study. It emerged from the study that stress is caused by personal/individual factors, interpersonal factors, leadership/management factors as well as professional factors. It was, also, found out that individuals adopt various ways and means such as seeking counselling services, involving in political arguments to while away time to reduce tension and talking to friends. The study recommends that the management of CoDE organize regular orientation programme for teachers on how to deal with stress professionally. It is also recommended that the government through the Ministry of Education trains more teachers to reduce workload on teachers. Lastly, GES should encourage teachers to engage in extra-curricular activities to reduce stress