A Study On The Current Situation Of Teachers’ Workload In Primary Schools In The Context Of The "Double Reduction" Policy

The issue of teachers’ workload has long been a concern,and with the implementation of the"double reduction" policy,the issue of teachers’ workload in primary schools has become an issue of discussion.The policy calls for a reduction in the academic burden of students;for schools to play a primary role in student learning,to optimise the design of homework and improve the quality of classroom work,and to improve the level and content of after-school services to promote the all-round development of students.This means that the nature of teachers’ work has changed considerably,and also places higher demands on their professional competence.Not only that,but teachers’ working hours have also increased with the implementation of after-school services.This study therefore addresses the issue of primary school teachers’ workload.In this study,front-line teachers in five urban primary schools in Y city were used to investigate the current situation of primary school teachers’ workload using questionnaire and interview methods.The results of the current survey showed that the workload of primary school teachers in city Y was on the heavy side and there were significant differences in six demographic variables:title,education,marital status,income,grade level of teaching and position;there were highly significant positive relationships between teachers’ workload and six dimensions:working hours,work content,working environment,assessment and promotion,family and social expectations of the teaching profession,and teachers’ own professional development.The study found that the following problems exist in the workload of primary school teachers in Y.Firstly,the workload of primary school teachers shows obvious group differences;secondly,primary school teachers work longer hours and have a heavier workload;thirdly,teachers have more non-teaching tasks and duties;fourthly,primary school teachers are in conflict with their work and have no time for their own professional development;fifthly,primary school teachers have heavy emotional work and their professional enthusiasm is declining.The reasons for this are:firstly,the lack of effective guidance from the government and the education administration on the management of teachers’ careers;secondly,the inadequate management and adjustment of teachers in schools in line with the "double reduction";thirdly,the imperfect trinity of the family,school and community in educating people;and fourthly,the lack of endogenous motivation for teachers to improve their own professionalism.In order to alleviate the workload of primary school teachers,the following strategies are proposed:The first is to strengthen the institutional guarantees of the government and the education administration,including:clarifying the boundaries of teachers’ responsibilities,reshaping the image of the teaching profession,strengthening the protection of teachers’ rights and interests,addressing teachers’ work concerns,accurately identifying teachers’ needs,and optimising the allocation of teachers’ resources;The second is the role of teacher management by the main body of the school,including:improving the teacher management system,rational planning of teachers’ work,optimising the teacher evaluation system,stimulating teachers’enthusiasm for their work,paying attention to teachers’ professional development and strengthening teachers’ professional management;The third is to activate the magnetic field of home,school and community integration,including:reasonably expecting teachers’ duties,strengthening teachers’ professional understanding,updating parents’ concept of parenting,creating an atmosphere of collaborative parenting,and strengthening the linkage of multiple parties to build a harmonious parenting environment;the fourth is to improve teachers’ own professionalism,including:strengthening awareness of the "double reduction" policy,improving their professionalism,returning to the true nature of education and teaching,and cultivating their own professional sentiment.