Effects of Occupational Stress on Job Satisfaction Among Public Basic School Teachers in the Accra Metropolis

Abstract

The study examined the effect of occupational stress on job satisfaction among basic school teachers in the Accra Metropolis. The descriptive survey design was employed. A questionnaire was used for the data collection. A sample of three hundred and twenty-two (322) was selected using stratified random sampling. These were teachers from kindergarten, primary and Junior High School levels of basic education. Data was analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modeling, ANOVA and Independent samples t test. The study revealed that teachers’ workloads, relationships with colleagues and supervisors, challenges with students, parents and administrators and challenges in classroom management as stressors that significantly affected teachers. There are many stress causing factors identified by various researchers however teacher workload, challenges with students and classroom challenges are key stressors that play a major role in determining teacher job satisfaction. These are issues which teachers encounter on daily basis and therefore must be critically examined. The study recommended that the Ghana Education Service in collaboration with other agencies in education must equip teachers with knowledge and skills in Information Communication Technology and provide them with technology tools such as computers and tablets to prepare their lesson plans. This would help reduce the workload on planning lessons.