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Liberia: Teacher Well-being, Standards and Competences Survey

Survey on Teacher Well-being, Standards and Competences

This survey collects the views of teachers in Liberia on their Well-being, and Teacher Professional Standards and Competences. It is an opinion poll which will have serious implications for the development and implementation of the Professional Standards and Competences for Teachers in Liberia.
Therefore, please ensure that you are a teacher in the public basic or senior secondary school before completing the questionnaire, and respond honestly and to the best of your ability. Your personal detail will not be disclosed to a third party or included in the analysis. Also, ensure that you are participating in the survey voluntarily and not compelled in anyway by another individual or authority.
It should take about 20 to 25 minutes to complete the survey.
Definition: The Professional Standards and Competences for Teachers are statements of the knowledge, skills, behaviour, ethics, values and attitudes expected of a teacher.


PART 1: PERSONAL BACKGROUND QUESTIONS
1.What is your county?(Required.)
2.Which of the following best describes your position in your school?(Required.)
3.Please select to indicate your type of school (Required.)
4.Is your school located in urban, semi-urban, rural, or remote area? (Required.)
5.What school level do you mainly teach?(Required.)
6.What is your sex?(Required.)
7.Please select to indicate your marital status(Required.)
8.What is your age group in years?(Required.)
9.What is your travel distance to school?(Required.)
10.How many days were you absent from school last month?
[If you were not absent from school last month, please select the FIRST option below, i.e., "0 days".](Required.)
PART 2: PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND QUESTIONS
11.What is the highest level of professional teacher training that you have completed?
[Please select the FIRST option below if you have NOT trained as a teacher](Required.)
12.How many years of pre-service teacher training have you received altogether?
[If you have not trained as a teacher, please select the FIRST option below. i.e., "I have not received any pre-service teacher training"](Required.)
13.In total, how many complete years have you actively been a teacher?(Required.)
14.How many lessons do you teach per week altogether?(Required.)
15.How many learners are in the largest class you teach?(Required.)
16.What best describes your MAIN teaching subjects?
[If you are teaching at Pre-primary or Primary school level, please select the FIRST option below, i.e., "ALL subjects".](Required.)
PART 3: WORK-RELATED AND WELL-BEING ISSUES
17.What best describes your career plans for the next five years?(Required.)
18.To what extent did each of these factors influence your original decision to become a teacher?(Required.)
To no extent
To a limited extent
To moderate extent
To a high extent
To a very high extent
(a) Lack of other career opportunities
(b) Desire to work with learners
(c) Influence of one of my teachers
(d) Influence of one of my parents/siblings/family members
(e) Love for the subject matter that I teach
(f) Respect for teaching as a profession
(g) Status of teachers in society
(h) Opportunities for career progress
(i) Passion to teach
(j) Family-friendly working conditions
19.Please rate the level of importance of the following factors that influences a teacher’s decision to stay in the job.
(Required.)
Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
(a) Salary or adequate compensation
(b) Adequate pre-service preparation
(c) Leadership of the principal
(d) Understanding and support from parents
(e) Friendly/supportive/healthy work-life balance culture
(f) Manageable workload/realistic job expectations
(g) Opportunities for professional development or training for teachers
(h) Opportunities for career progression or promotion
(i) Job security
(j) Status of teachers in society
(k) Family-friendly policies
(l) Teacher independence in executing decisions
(m) Involvement of teacher in making decisions about their issues
(n) Policies on teacher performance review
(o) Location of the school
20.The following statements describe feelings and perceptions about the experience of being a teacher. Please rate how much you disagree or agree with each statement.(Required.)
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
(a) I am highly satisfied by my teaching job
(b) Most hours in my working day are spent on work-related issues
(c) My compensation is highly rewarding
(d) My employer offers many opportunities for career or professional development
(e) I am satisfied with guidelines on promotion
(f) Achievement of set guidelines on promotion is difficult
(g) I am satisfied with the current teacher performance appraisal guidelines
(h) I am satisfied with the requirement by my employer for Continuous Professional Development
(i) I feel capable of maintaining classroom control with the current class sizes
(j) I am well trained in motivating my learners in their academic endeavors
(k) My job allows me to easily meet my family needs
(l) The institution where I work is not exposed to any danger that may cause health problems
(m) Teaching makes my life more meaningful
(n) I have job security at the institution where I work
(o) My institution adopts a democratic and participatory approach towards management and supervision
(p) I feel fatigued when I get up in the morning and must face another day at school
(q) Given another opportunity, I would still choose teaching as my career
21.What support mechanisms are available from your employer/school to support teachers deal with work-related stress, mental health or well-being issues?(Required.)
Not available
Available
(a) Presence of a common room for relaxation and socialization
(b) Availability of free training on issues related mental health and well-being.
(c) Availability of written guidelines on teacher mental health and well-being at my school
(d) Availability of professional services, such as counselors
(e) Facilitation of referral when there are severe cases
22.On a personal level, how often do you apply the following strategies to avoid work-related stress?(Required.)
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Most of the time
All the time
(a) Taking leave or go on a vacation
(b) Making sure I am eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated
(c) Seeking professional support to help untangle life challenges
(d) Socializing with coworkers
(e) Reaching out to people close to you especially family and friends
(f) Making time to relax such as exercising, taking a walk, and meditation
(g) Setting clear boundaries between work and non-work matters
23.In the last 30 days, how often did you encounter the following work-related stress, mental health or well-being issues as a teacher?(Required.)
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Most of the time
All the time
(a) How often did you feel tired for no good reason?
(b) How often did you feel nervous?
(c) How often did you feel so nervous that nothing could calm you down?
(d) How often did you feel hopeless?
(e) How often did you feel restless or fidgety?
(f) How often did you feel so restless that you could not sit still?
(g) How often did you feel depressed?
(h) How often did you feel that everything challenges you?
(i) How often did you feel so sad that nothing could cheer you up?
(j) How often did you feel worthless?
(k) How often did you feel lonely?
(l) How often did you feel angry for no good reason?
(m) How often did you feel like committing suicide?
24.The following statements describe some of the approaches teachers have used to cope with work-related stress, mental health and well-being issues. On a scale of 1 to 4, please rate how much you disagree or agree with each statement.(Required.)
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
(a) If I approach my school principal with concerns about my mental health, I feel confident that I will be well supported.
(b) Appropriate support for mental health issues for learners is available in my school.
(c) I understand and respond to my learners’ mental and emotional needs.
(d) I feel confident talking to learners about their mental health and psychosocial well-being.
(e) I incorporate activities related to mental health and well-being in my lessons.
(f) I can refer learners affected by mental health and psychosocial issues for further support.
25.Have you attended any in-service training or courses on the following issues in the last 3 years?(Required.)
No
Yes
a) School safety and security issues
b) Peace and resilience issues
c) Comprehensive sexuality education and related issues
d) Digital technology or ICT issues
e) Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and well-being issues
f) Special needs education issues
g) Gender responsive pedagogy issues
h) Other inclusive education issues (e.g., disability)
i) Competency based curriculum
j) I have not undergone any in-service training since I started teaching
PART 4: ICT, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND COMPETENCES ISSUES
26.How would you rate your level of expertise in the following ICT skills?(Required.)
Novice or very low
Beginner or low
Intermediate or moderate
Advanced or high
Expert or very high
(a) Word processing
(b) Use of worksheets (Excel)
(c) Development of PowerPoint presentations
(d) Use of databases
(e) Use of e-learning platforms (e.g. Google classroom)
(f) Development of webpages
(g) Conducting online surveys or e-tests
(h) Integrating ICT in pedagogy
27.Please indicate your answer to the following questions by clicking on either “No” or “Yes”.(Required.)
No
Yes
a) I have heard about the Professional Teaching Standards and Competences
b) I have read a copy of the Professional Teaching Standards and Competences of Liberia
c) I have heard of the term, “Professional development portfolio”
d) I believe there should be clearly spelt out standards and competences for teachers
e) I think Professional Standards and Competence for Teachers can improve the performance of teachers
f) Liberia has well spelt-out standards and competences for teachers
g) In Liberia, we have a teacher registration and licensing authority
h) I am currently registered as a teacher by the Centre of Excellence for Teacher Licensing and School Accreditation, Ministry of Education
i) Currently, I hold a teaching license, like other professionals that I know
j) After my teacher training, I took another/other teacher professional test(s) (or examination) before starting my job as a teacher
k) Before starting my job as a teacher, I received a professional induction (or an orientation exercise)
l) I have access to an official computer, laptop or tablet in my school
m) I have access to free internet connection in my school
n) I own a personal computer, laptop or tablet
o) I own a smart phone
p) My monthly salary is paid as and when due
q) I am always paid my salary in full (and never as part-payment)
r) My school has a teacher award (or other programmes) to recognise teacher performance at the school level
s) In Liberia, there is a teacher award (or other programmes) to recognise teacher performance organised at the national level
t) In Liberia, we have well-outlined policy on career pathways for teachers
28.Please rate your level of agreement (or disagreement) with the following statements based on your experience as a teacher(Required.)
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
a) My pre-service teacher training prepared me adequately for the challenges I met on the ground when I started teaching
b) My pre-service teacher training did not expose me enough to the content of the subject that I teach
c) My pre-service teacher training did not expose me enough to the practical skills that I need to plan and deliver my lessons and other educational programmes
d) My pre-service teacher training did not expose me enough to the ethics and expected conduct which I need to know about as a teacher
e) The amount of in-service training I have received since I started teaching has been very adequate
f) The supply of teaching aids and resources in my school is very sufficient
g) The overall physical condition of my school is excellent
h) In general, the condition of the furniture in my school staff-room is excellent
i) In general, the condition of teacher toilets in my school is excellent
j) My relationship with the head teacher (or school principal) is excellent
k) I am well trained to use learning assessment in teaching at the right level
29.Please name the TOPMOST in-service training that you would like to get as teacher. [OPTIONAL]
30.List three key suggestions to improve teaching standards and teacher competences in Liberia? [OPTIONAL]