Challenges Outside the Classroom, the Biggest Obstacle for Educators Worldwide
The majority of teachers worldwide, from kindergarten to university level, believe that the biggest barrier to student success is challenges outside the classroom. According to a survey covering educators from 19 countries including the USA, from kindergarten to university level, 57% of teachers reported that many out-of-school factors such as problems at home and insufficient family support hinder student success.
According to data from the survey conducted by McGraw Hill Research Company, about 50% of teachers identified students’ behavioral and mental health issues as their biggest challenge. 36% of the teachers surveyed pointed out difficulties related to students lacking prerequisite skills. Regarding artificial intelligence, 65% of teachers across all levels noted that technology helped reduce time spent on administrative tasks, and 63% said it facilitated the learning experience for every student. 41% of teachers stated that technology mostly had a positive impact on educational outcomes, while about one in every five teachers mentioned that artificial intelligence had a negative effect on students.
Participants recommended that policymakers work on improving teacher salaries to boost student success, while educators at the higher education level suggested providing more funding. According to data that also includes views from teachers in the United States, 76% of elementary, middle, and high school teachers in the U.S. reported that managing student behavior and mental health needs was their biggest challenge, similar to teachers worldwide. Elementary, middle, and high school teachers identified engaging students as their second biggest challenge, while 68% of higher education educators noted that the biggest challenge was capturing students’ interest.