Education in crisis | Emotional and mental well-being essential for teachers

JOHANNESBURG - Pupils and teachers alike face various challenges in the classroom.

Recently, a Vanderbijlpark teacher was fired from her school after telling a pupil to stop ‘laughing like an idiot'.

Often overlooked, teachers have to cope with high levels of stress and work-related trauma emanating from pupil behavioural issues.

At the same time, pupils are having to deal with many issues.

While the focus on mental health at schools is mainly on helping learners, what kind of support is available to teachers?

Xolani Fakude is from the SA Democratic Teachers Union and University of Johannesburg Professor Jace Pillay is also the South African Research Chair in Education and Care in Childhood.

They unpack this further.