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Teachers

Exploring Teachers' Resilience in Special Schools for Learners with Hearing Impairment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study by researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa has shed light on the challenges faced by teachers in special schools for learners with hearing impairment. The study aimed to explore teachers' resilience and lived experiences in these settings, revealing valuable insights into the importance of support and job satisfaction for these educators.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that nine teachers from a single special school in Gauteng Province, South Africa, participated in individual interviews and a focus group discussion, revealing four themes: personality traits, perceptions about teachers' experience, challenges related to parental resistance, and the need for emotional support.
  • The findings indicated that lack of support affects teachers' and parents' relationships and impacts learners' academic performance, emphasizing the importance of teacher-parent relationships in special schools.
  • The study highlighted that teachers in special schools tend to remain in the profession when they receive support and feel fulfilled by their work, underscoring the significance of teacher job satisfaction.
  • The research provided recommendations on the benefits of support in building resilience in teaching, including counselling and strengthening teacher-parent relationships.

Statistics:

  • The study included nine teachers from a single special school for learners with hearing impairment in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
  • The research employed an interpretivist phenomenological approach to analyze data from individual interviews and a focus group discussion.
  • The study revealed that lack of support not only affects teachers' and parents' relationships but also impacts learners' academic performance.
  • The results indicated that teachers in special schools tend to remain in the profession when they receive support and feel fulfilled by their work.

Sources:

  • Exploring Teachers' Resilience and Lived Experiences in Special Schools for Learners with Hearing Impairment - A Case Study of Gauteng Province, South Africa. Journal of Education and Learning Technology, 2025(6):513-524.
  • Noyam Journals. Website: https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025681.

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