Abstract:
It has become academically imperative to investigate how workload relates to
headteachers job stress and how job stress relates to burnout among headteachers.
The negative consequences of job stress on the work of headteachers call for research
on the job and burnout linkage in order to increase our understanding on how to
mitigate this problem among headteachers. The purpose of the study is to determine
the relationship of workload and perceived stress among basic school headteachers in
the Assin Foso Municipality. It also examined coping strategies employed by both
male and female headteachers to manage the negative effects of stress they might
experience. There were fifty-three headteachers working in the public basic schools of
Assin Foso Municipality and all constituted the population of the study. They were 41
male respondents which constituted 77.4% and 12 females constituted 22.6% of the
sample. To achieve the purpose of the study, five specific objectives with
corresponding research questions were posed, and two hypotheses postulated. The
researcher employed a dual mode paradigm, thus, quantitative and qualitative
paradigms which required the researcher to collect both quantitative and qualitative
data and analyse them using a sequential explanatory multi- method design. The
instruments for the study were questionnaire and interview guide for the focus group.
Through correlational research, the researcher easily determined the statistical
relationship between the variables, thus; workload, job stress and coping strategies of
headteachers or behavioural trend with regards to the variables under consideration. It
also helped the researcher to investigate how workload relates to headteachers job
stress and how job stress relates to burnout among headteachers in Assin Foso
Municipality. With regard to Headteachers Workload, the findings revealed that both
male and female basic school heads were occupationally stressed with respect to
workload, thus, admission of students, monitoring and setting of examination
questions, teachers and students’ disciplinary issues, vetting of teachers’ lessons
notes, administrative responsibilities constituting high level workload and they were
perceived stressors. Regarding coping strategies, it became evident that participating
in religious activities, watching movies/TV, getting adequate sleep, effective time
management among others help. Studying stress and workload among school heads
has implications for improving understanding of job-stress and its related effect on the
working life of headteachers. We need to appreciate the environmental and personal
factors that promote stress and early manifestation of stress. This knowledge helps to
map out coping strategies and proactive prevention. The study recommends that: the
Assin Foso municipal education office should implement the policy of detaching or
exempting headteachers from teaching alongside their administrative work and other
duties that interfere with their responsibilities as school managers; the guidance and
counselling service departments at the municipal education offices should organise
seminars and workshops on stress reduction and coping strategies for the headteachers
on their day to day duties.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Educational Administration and Management,
Faculty of Educational Studies, submitted to the School
of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of
Master of Philosophy
(Educational Administration and Management)
in the University of Education, Winneba