The object of this study was to determine sources of teacher stress in primary schools in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Data were collected using a questionnaire and interviews. The study revealed the following stressors in order of most to least stressful: curriculum changes, work load pressures, job insecurity, poor relationship with colleagues, reward and recognition, learners discipline problems, poor rapport with management and role ambiguity. Furthermore, the results showed that a combination of outside and inside factors were associated with teacher stress. In terms of inside factors, organisational stressors and classroom stressors were related with teacher stress.

Mncedisi Maphalala (PhD)is a Senior Lecturer in the College of Education at the University of South Africa. Previously he worked at the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Zululand and the Department of Education in KwaZulu Natal(RSA).His research interests are curriculum studies, educational management and experiential learning.