The Nature and Impact of Teacher Stress in the Private Schools of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Abstract

The study explored the nature and impact of teacher stress in the private schools of GilgitBaltistan of Pakistan. Over the last decade or so there has been mushroom growth of the privately-run English-medium schools almost in all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and, hence, a phenomenal increase in the number of teachers serving in these schools. Analysis of the stress factors showed that they were inextricably connected with the professional, personal and financial dimensions of teacher life. Also, it is noteworthy that the numerous factors were interconnected; i.e. a stress factor falling in a certain dimension (e.g. professional) has implications for the factors falling in the other two dimensions (e.g. personal and financial), and vice versa. The data categorically delineated that the stress factors left various marks on teachers, influencing (often negatively) their morale and motivation and, therefore, impacted their sense of professionalism and classroom performance.