Danish teachers face high stress and student verbal abuse

A survey conducted by the Danish Union of Teachers (Danmarks Lærerforening) reveals significant work environment challenges in Danish primary schools. Approximately half of the 1,901 teachers surveyed report feeling stressed on a daily or weekly basis. Nine out of ten respondents attribute this stress to workplace conditions, citing insufficient preparation time, classroom noise, and an overwhelming volume of tasks.

In addition to workload concerns, teachers are facing increased verbal aggression from students. One-third of teachers reported being spoken to rudely by students within the past week, with four out of ten experiencing such incidents daily or several times a week.

Gordon Ørskov Madsen, chairman of the Danish Union of Teachers, warned that these issues constitute a major work environment problem. He noted that many teachers who take sick leave due to stress do not return to the profession, leading to a loss of staff that impacts teaching quality and society at large.