Extra work besides teaching enriches teaching practice
Three-quarters of teachers in secondary education do more than just teaching and had an extra role last school year, for example as a mentor or foreign coordinator. Half of this group of teachers combines two, three or four different roles in addition to teaching.
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Especially teachers who spend longer in front of the class do more than just teach. The share is lowest among starters: slightly more than half have another task. This is evident from a survey by the Kohnstamm Institute and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
The research was commissioned by the labor market platform Voion, where the AOb with other unions. With this research Voion wants to contribute to career policy in secondary education and to the formation of thoughts about making the profession attractive.
Top five
80 percent of the teachers who completed the digital questionnaire are mentors or tutors. The most frequently mentioned roles also include section leader, excursion coordinator, coach for starting teachers and subject specialist.
The teachers are generally satisfied with the role they perform in addition to teaching, the researchers write in the report. They consider it important for the development of their career, want to improve student learning or do it for the challenge. The variety it provides is also a plus for many teachers. Those who are dissatisfied feel that their role involves too much work or takes too much time. 70 percent indicate that they appreciate the extra tasks they take on. For example, in the form of hours in their annual task, freely scheduled hours or recognition. The proportion of teachers who are dissatisfied with the valuation, 30 percent, cite a lack of time or financial growth.
Widely applicable
In addition to the questionnaire, the researchers also held discussions about teachers' careers and additional roles. The researchers conclude that challenging roles can make the profession attractive. "In addition to the vertical career paths from LB to LD, the roles that align with teachers' interests and talents form for better and wider employability," the researchers said.
Many teachers also experience the roles as valuable for their personal and professional development. However, there is still little evidence of a relationship with career development. And there is a big difference in roles per school. At one school it is a function while at another school it is not. Some roles are performed by a teacher while another school employs a supporter for this.
Curious about how other schools deal with different roles for teachers? In the report ten portraits stand for inspiration.
