When people think of teacher burnout, the image that often comes to mind is of a frazzled educator battling noisy classrooms and restless students. But ask any teacher, and they will say the same thing: The students are not the problem. In fact, they are the best part of the day. It’s the sparkle in a child’s eye when a concept clicks, the quiet “thank you” after extra help, or the laughter that brightens a morning that keeps teachers going. These moments rarely cause burnout. What drains teachers is everything else-the responsibilities far removed from nurturing young minds. Endless paperwork, shifting policies and unrealistic expectations consume hours that should be spent inspiring curiosity. Teachers today spend as much time on screens as they do with students, uploading lessons, filing compliance reports and completing inspection notes. A 2023 UNESCO survey showed over 60 per cent of teachers in India cited non-teaching duties as their biggest stress. Added to this are vast syllabi, board exam pressures and workplace politics — favouritism, micromanagement and unfair appraisals. The job often feels like a tightrope walk with little reward. Technology, though essential, has become a double-edged sword. Smart classrooms and AI-driven assessments promise innovation but often overwhelm.
With little training, teachers struggle to navigate complex systems, increasing workload instead of reducing it. As one remarked, “We’re expected to fly the plane while building it.” Teachers also wear many hats: counsellors, mediators, even social workers. They notice when children struggle emotionally but are expected to handle it with minimal resources. The pandemic magnified this burden. Overnight, teachers became tech experts, recording lessons and adapting to virtual classrooms while managing their own families. Their resilience was immense, yet unlike doctors or nurses, their struggles rarely made headlines. Policy reforms, though well-intentioned, often arrive without support. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and new assessment strategies add to pressure when rolled out hastily. The obsession with standardised testing compounds the problem, pushing teachers to “teach to the test” rather than nurture critical thinking. Unrealistic expectations from management and parents further erode autonomy, reducing teachers to data managers rather than mentors. Perhaps the most disheartening factor is the lack of recognition. Teachers work long hours-marking papers, preparing lessons, mentoring students-yet their pay rarely reflects the effort. Professional development is limited, and mental health support almost non-existent. As one veteran summed up: “I can handle forty students, but what breaks me is fighting for resources, constant scrutiny, and never feeling valued.” The cost of burnout is high. Talented educators leave, or worse, remain disengaged.
And when teachers suffer, students inevitably pay the price. As the saying goes, “When the gardener is weary, the flowers suffer.” The solution lies in fixing the system, not toughening teachers. Schools must cut unnecessary paperwork, streamline platforms like UDISE+, ensure fair practices, and provide proper training for technology. CPD must be meaningful, not token. Above all, real appreciation is needed: Better salaries, lighter workloads, greater autonomy and public respect. Teaching is a calling, but passion alone cannot sustain it. If we ease these burdens, we keep the joy of teaching alive and ensure every child benefits from inspired, supported educators.
The writers is an educator
