In Depth: Mental Health Problems of Chinese Teachers

[para. 1] After four years as a high school teacher, Chen Jun experienced serious health problems, including weight and mental health problems. [para. 2] His school in Kunming adopted the “Hengshui model,” a strict educational system aimed at excelling in national examinations.

[para. 3] Chen was required to arrive before seven o’clock in the morning for student care, regardless of night duties, and faced disciplinary action for being late. [para. 4] In order to manage this pressure, he set many alarms but still could not sleep well. He often woke up nervous, full of anxiety about being late. [para. 5] Despite seeking treatment and being given medication, its side effects made it impossible for him to maintain his personal and professional life. His salary of less than 4,000 yuan made it impossible to pay for ongoing psychological counseling.

[para. 6] Although Chen’s situation is extreme, it is not unique. [para. 7] A survey of more than 550,000 teachers revealed that from 2000 to 2022, 16.1% of Chinese teachers faced mental health problems, a figure that rose to 17.8% when excluding teachers. a primary school. [para. 8] Yu Guoliang, who led the study at Renmin University, complained about the lack of care for teachers’ mental health despite global awareness.

[para. 9] In comparison, teachers are more depressed than other professions, and one study shows the lowest levels of depression among office workers, civil servants and factory workers. [para. 10] Yu emphasized that this issue not only affects teachers but also affects the Chinese education system.

[para. 11][para. 12] In 2021, China’s “double reduction” policy sought to reduce the workload of students, ironically leading to increased pressure on teachers due to extended working hours without a reduction in academic requirements , as reported by Fang Jie from Shanghai. [para. 14] Schools expect teachers to monitor students during what was previously a break, adding pressure without solving administrative problems, says Fang. Despite policy changes, the challenges of assessment and textbooks remain, making it difficult to reduce workload.

[para. 17][para. 18] In addition, teachers feel overwhelmed by more teaching responsibilities, including parent relationships without adequate school support. Fang shared an incident involving a parent’s delay in crying, revealing the age-old problems teachers face with insufficient support from school leadership. [para. 19] A post-cancer surgery session, Fang’s contract was not renewed,​​​​​​​highlighting the health risks associated with stress.

[para. 22] In 2023, a young teacher in Henan province committed suicide, burdened with non-teaching duties, highlighting the problem of the system that undermines teachers’ views on education, which was also recognized during the “Two Sessions” of the law , emphasizes the need to reduce teachers’ workloads. .

[para. 23][para. 24] A study by Chen Guiyun showed that teachers are faced with many non-teaching tasks, including complex papers, which cover their main tasks. Many feel that their salaries do not adequately cover their work.

[para. 26] Recent policies aim to lighten the workload of teachers, and some provinces are reducing non-teaching roles. Despite these measures, Yu argues that they deal with the symptoms, not the underlying causes, advocating for implementation strategies and creating networks that support the government, schools and families for mental health. of teachers.

[para. 27][para. 28] Ahead of Teachers’ Day, the Ministry of Education planned measures to ensure that teachers’ salaries are in line with local civil servants and to support rural teachers, emphasizing legal holidays and protection rights.

AI is presented, for reference only