Ei-iE

Working conditions

The physical conditions of a learning environment have a direct impact on the well-being and health of teachers and education support personnel. When school buildings are well-maintained, classrooms are adequately ventilated and lit, and learning materials are accessible, it creates a space where individuals can focus, feel comfortable, and engage more effectively. On the other hand, overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure, or a lack of basic resources can lead to stress, fatigue, and even health issues, which in turn affect the quality of teaching and learning.

Resolution on wellbeing for quality education, adopted in 2019 by the 8th EI World Congress. The resolution highlights the critical role of quality education in the wellbeing of children and young people, emphasizing the need for investment in mental health support for students and education personnel.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French

Publisher: Education International (EI)
Year of publication: 2019

Topics: Mental health Working conditions Workload
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel
Specific communities: Ethnic minorities Indigenous Peoples LGBTIQA+ Women
Resource type: Web page

This publication collects a series of articles that examine the critical relationship between teachers' working conditions and their physical and mental health. It highlights the growing stress and pressure faced by educators due to neoliberal education policies, increased workloads, and precarious employment. Through diverse contributions from Latin American educators and researchers, the publication underscores how systemic issues, such as privatization and market-driven reforms, have led to deteriorating health outcomes among teachers.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Red SEPA (Social para la Educación Pública en América)
Country: Brazil Mexico Argentina
Year of publication: 2018

Region: Latin America
Topics: Mental health Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The report provides an overview of the health and well-being of education personnel in 15 French-speaking countries. Based on surveys and interviews conducted in 2018, the report highlights key issues such as access to healthcare, working conditions, and the role of trade unions in promoting health awareness. The findings aim to inform and inspire actions to improve the well-being of education professionals globally.

Download resource in French

Publisher: Syndical Francophone de l’Éducation et de la Formation (CSFEF) Education and Solidarity Network (ESN)
Country: Benin Burkina Faso Canada Cape Verde Chad Congo France Guinea Lebanon Belgium Mauritius Romania Senegal Switzerland Tunisia
Year of publication: 2018

Topics: Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The document presents findings on how working conditions impact the health of private school teachers in Argentina. It reveals that a significant majority of educators experience fatigue, stress, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain, often without a clear cause beyond their demanding work environment. The report also highlights frequent illnesses such as vocal strain, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disturbances, linking them to the physical and emotional demands of teaching.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2012

Region: Latin America
Topics: Physical health Working conditions
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The research provides an in-depth analysis of the overall workload experienced by private school teachers in Argentina. It examines the physical, mental, and psychosocial demands placed on educators both during and outside school hours, highlighting how these pressures affect their health and well-being. The report reveals that many teachers face extended workdays, emotional strain, and a lack of resources to manage classroom challenges, with women disproportionately affected due to additional domestic responsibilities.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2012

Region: Latin America
Topics: Mental health Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

This page provides a comprehensive hub of resources aimed at promoting safe, supportive, and health-conscious learning environments for both students and educators. It addresses key issues such as mental health, gun violence prevention, infection control, and healthy buildings, offering practical tools and strategies to tackle the root causes of school safety challenges.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Safety Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Web page

This is an innovative, modular suite of 29 interactive online learning modules designed to promote a culture of health and safety in the workplace. Covering a wide range of topics from risk assessment to emergency response and workplace ergonomics, the EOSH package is accessible across devices and adaptable to various sectors and audiences. It offers customizable training solutions for employers’ organizations and other entities.

Open resource in English

Publisher: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Topics: Safety Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

Ei-iE

Working conditions

Showing 52 Resources Filtered by:

Teacher and education support personnel’s mental health - Resolution from the 8th World Congress

Working conditions and teacher health

Report of the survey panorama focus sante - 2018

Teachers’ health and its relationship with working conditions

Overall workload of teaching staff

It’s time to invest in student & educator well-being

The New Training Package on Essentials in Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH)