SYDNEY, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's public and policymakers are urged to show more respect for teachers as a national study showed that 70 percent of the country's teachers don't feel that the teaching profession is respected or appreciated by the public.
The Australian Teachers' Perceptions of their Work Report 2022, conducted by Monash University and revealed on Monday, was based on a national survey of more than 5,000 teachers nationwide.
It showed that seven in 10 teachers don't feel respected by the Australian public; one in four teachers do not feel safe at work; less than 14 percent of teachers report their workload is manageable; and less than 10 percent of teachers feel respected by politicians.
The report also found that teachers' satisfaction with their roles has dropped from 65.9 percent to 45.8 percent, from the previous 2019 survey to the current one, with only three in 10 teachers planning on staying in the profession.
"These results are a wake-up call for us all. They highlight the urgent need for systemic action and personal change. Teachers play a critical role in shaping our shared future, they deserve the utmost respect and appreciation, and that includes having a place at the table when it comes to policy making," said the report's lead author, lecturer in Educational Leadership at Monash University's Faculty of Education Fiona Longmuir.
With staff shortages partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, aging and shrinking workforces, and not competitive payment, Australia has seen complaints and strikes of teachers from time to time and increasing demand to improve their working conditions.
A study released by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) last month showed that full-time teachers typically work 55 hours a week, 45 percent more hours than they are paid for, while part-time teachers work four days a week, 40 percent more hours than they are paid for.
Longmuir said systemic action and personal change are urgently needed now.
"We need to prioritize respect for this highly valuable workforce and respect takes many forms. We must appreciate our teachers, advocate on their behalf, and enable their voices to be heard at the policymaking table," she noted.
The report also found some bright side as eight in 10 teachers still felt a strong sense of belonging to the profession, particularly from their relationships with other teachers, school staff and students. ■
