CAUSES OF TEACHERS' JOB STRESS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND COPING STRATEGIES

This research was intended to identify the causes of job stress in private schools and coping strategies. The main objectives of the study were 1) to identify the causes of teachers’ job stress in private schools, 2) to compare the causes of job stress across gender and 3) to find out the coping strategies for job stress in private schools. The design of this investigation was a sequential-explanatory mixed method design to investigate the causes of teachers’ job stress in private schools and explore the coping strategies to reduce the job stress. The target population of the study was comprised of all teachers both male and female in private schools of Town 2, district Peshawar. The tools of the study were questionnaire and interview. The tools were subjected to pilot testing before administration in the field. It is evident from the findings that teachers at private schools are suffering from job stress, physically, socially and psychologically. In order to cope with job stress, the respondents viewed that these should be adequate workload, adequate policies for promotion, leaves, salaries etc. teachers should be involved in decision making. Similarly, there should be no favoritism. The environment should be of mutual respect and motivating. Teachers may be given organizational support by revising policies regarding leave, teachers’ induction, promotion, expulsion etc. the study recommended adequate measures to cope with physical and administrative, social and psychological factors of job stress.