The impact of primary school closures in Ireland resulting from the coronavirus pandemic on principal and teacher wellbeing

Abstract

In December 2019, in Wuhan in China an outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported. In late February 2020, the first cases of the virus were recorded in Ireland. By 11th March, the World Health Organisation had declared the outbreak a pandemic and on 12th March, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar announced that all schools would close with effect from 6pm that day. The schools remained closed until September. This paper considers the impact of the closure of primary schools on both principals’ and teachers’ wellbeing. A mixed-methods, longitudinal research methodology was undertaken. There were two phases to the research. Phase one was undertaken in June and July 2020 when teachers and principals participated in a semi-structured interview and completed two questionnaires: the Emotional Regulation questionnaire and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Phase 2 of data collection was completed in December/January 2021/2021 when the teachers participated in a further interview and completed the questionnaires again. The overall aim of the study was to provide an opportunity for principals and teachers to reflect on how the pandemic impacted on their wellbeing and by inference, the impact of the increased emotional labour of teaching during COVID.