Document Type : practical
Authors
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1. M.A. Student, Department of Career Counseling, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
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2. Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
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Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Abstract
Teachers in exceptional schools face greater challenges compared to regular teachers due to their engagement with students who have special needs. This study, conducted in 1402, aimed to identify occupational hazards among exceptional school teachers and sought to gain a deep understanding of their professional challenges through their lived experiences. The research employed a qualitative approach with a phenomenological strategy. Participants were selected through purposive sampling from exceptional school teachers in Najafabad County. The sampling process continued until theoretical saturation was reached, resulting in interviews with eight teachers. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis techniques and MAXQDA24 software. The findings revealed that exceptional school teachers experience occupational hazards across eight main themes: hazards related to work nature, working conditions, job motivation, professional attitudes and growth, work-family conflict, interference of psychological harm with job duties, organizational commitment, and management and organizational policies. The experiences of exceptional school teachers indicate multiple occupational hazards that can negatively impact the quality of educational services, mental health, and job satisfaction. These hazards range from the nature of work to organizational and managerial issues, necessitating serious attention to material and moral support, improvement of working conditions, enhancement of job motivation, and provision of counseling and psychological services for this group of teachers.
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