Professional demotivation in school

Internal factors (in the school)

External factors (outside the school)

Working conditions

“(…) reduce the number of students per class, without any doubt, more support teachers (…)”. (Sónia, oral narrative, 2010).

Work environment

“(…) creating great instability, insecurity, discontentment, frustration and demotivation amongst teachers (…)” (Catarina, written narrative, 2008).

Professional recognition

“(…) I don’t feel any recognition concerning my work, when doing the best that I know, which makes me give up.” (Questionnaire 129).

Relationship with peers

“There arise new relationships between teachers but one is very confused on the basis of mistrust and demotivation” (Catarina, written narrative, 2008).

Education policies

“(…) the policies promote disinvestment in the pedagogical practice of teachers, which irredeemably will be reflected in quality (…)” (Gabriela, written narrative, 2008).

Bureaucratic education system

“In relation to this documentation all of us are challenged. Unhappily for me, it causes much confusion (…)” (Cátia, discussion group 1).

Social recognition

“(…) the teacher is not recognized on a social level. Our profession was discredited and little recognized. Our work has been of little value” (Questionnaire 55).

Permanent demands of new tasks

“(…) I didn’t take a course for, for evaluating teachers. I didn’t take a course for running meetings. I didn’t take a course writing minutes (…)” (Gabriela, oral narrative, 2010).

Consequences/impact on teachers: Frustration, Tiredness, Stress, Fear