Jul
It’s time we talk about the elephant in the staffroom.
Teachers around the world are burning out, walking out, or tuning out—and it’s not because they lack passion. It’s because the profession they trained for no longer resembles the one they’re working in.
Just like recent data shows a collapse in engagement among managers (especially younger and female leaders), the same trend is hitting teachers—only worse. The reasons are uncomfortable, but they need to be said.
Low pay, rising expectations
In many countries, teachers’ salaries have barely shifted in real terms for over a decade. Yet the demands on them have exploded—admin, safeguarding, behavior management, digital reporting, curriculum overhauls. They’re doing the jobs of counsellors, social workers, tech troubleshooters and content creators—for salaries that barely compete with entry-level roles outside education.
Too many low-quality teachers are getting through the door
Here’s where it gets controversial: a growing number of underqualified or underprepared teachers are flooding the system. Why? Because the bar has been lowered in a desperate attempt to fill vacancies. This undermines professional standards and frustrates experienced teachers who are forced to pick up the slack—or worse, watch their profession lose respect.
Lack of leadership training
Just as young managers struggle from lack of training, many new heads of department or school leaders are promoted without meaningful support. They may be fantastic teachers, but leadership is a different skill. Poor leadership trickles down, impacting morale, communication, and retention.
Work-life imbalance hits women hardest
Teaching is still a female-dominated profession, and for women who take on most of the caregiving at home, the job is increasingly unsustainable. Hybrid or flexible options are rare, and many find themselves forced out of the classroom when they can’t keep up with the ever-stretching hours.
Mental health and burnout are the norm, not the exception
We talk a lot about student wellbeing. But who is looking after the teachers? Mental health support is patchy or nonexistent in most schools, and the ‘superhero teacher’ narrative only fuels guilt and burnout.
We can’t fix this with another ‘wellbeing day’ or box-ticking CPD session. We need better pay. Higher standards for entry. Proper training for leaders. And a serious rethinking of what we’re expecting teachers to be.
Until then, don’t ask why teachers are unhappy at work. Ask why they’re still showing up.
Debra Mann
Education Consultant | TEFL Specialist | Teacher Advocate