Who supported teachers during the COVID-19 lockdown? Online learning amidst a changing Polish educational system

ABSTRACT

The authors wanted to analyse teachers and specialist councillors and compare their levels of stress, mental wellbeing, their occupational tasks, the assessment of the support received and the additional help that they expected whilst working online during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 amidst the transformation of the educational system in Poland. Data were collected using a questionnaire, PSS 10, and the scale based on GHQ12 and GH30. The findings highlighted that the pandemic situation and the need to work remotely most likely increased the stress levels and thus lowered the mental wellbeing of the teachers and specialists surveyed, although the results indicate that stage III teachers may have experienced more difficulties, and specialists working in counselling fewer difficulties. The research showed the inadequacy of the support perceived by the teachers in relation to the difficulties experienced during remote work. Specialists provided support primarily to other specialists, but not to teachers.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• Polish education
• teachers’ stress
• teachers’ mental wellbeing
• specialist counsellors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2023.2231900

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Monika Skura

Monika Skura is a PhD professor at the Faculty of Education, Warsaw University. Her research relates to educational solutions for students with special needs and the professional development of SEN teachers.

Anna Steinhagen

Anna Steinhagen is a psychologist and psychotherapist. She worked as a PhD professor at the Faculty of Education, Warsaw University for 10 years. Currently, she is working at a psychological and pedagogical counseling centre. Her research and practical interests concern supporting students and teachers in crisis situations.