KOLEJ DISTED-STAMFORD NEWS
20 June 2009

Stress-coping skills for teachers

About 170 SMJK Jit Sin teachers gained wider perspectives on handling stress and anxiety at a workshop conducted by DISTED College.  

“Teachers need to be able to handle stress well as they have a heavy workload,” said Tan Kim Teong, the school's principal. 

“They’re a jack of all trades with various duties and paperwork besides teaching,” he said when attending the stress and anxiety management training held on 20 June 2009. 

“I’m glad to see my teachers being very responsive to the training. They enjoy learning how to de-stress.

“This off-site activity is also like a family trip for us to build closer rapport,” Tan added. 

SMJK Jit Sin teachers at the stress and anxiety management training conducted by DISTED.

A sharing session on stressors in the school.

Biology panel head Chew Saw Bee found it informative to know about stress at a personal level. 

“This is the first time I’ve taken a professional life stress test. The questionnaire helps me to identify my stress level and think about ways to address it,” she said. 

“The training is lively as it uses hands-on approach. The group discussions have helped us to better understand the stressors affecting us in school,” said Chew. 

“For stress relief, I do walks, watch TV and pray,” she added. 

SMJK Jit Sin principal Tan Kim Teong (right) and his teachers at DISTED to learn more about stress-coping skills.

DISTED business development and quality assurance manager Josephine Chan Ie Lyn conducted the workshop. 

She explained the causes of stress, common misconceptions about stress and stress-coping strategies. 

“A key source of stress is changes as they create a climate of unpredictability and uncertainty,” she said. 

SMJK Jit Sin teachers in a discussion at the workshop...(from left) Tan Sai Sim, language senior teacher Ang Kooi Looi, Lee Gaik Moy and biology panel head Chew Saw Bee.