Each participant was asked to estimate how many hours they spent on average preparing for their teaching and how much of this time was paid or unpaid. Most found it difficult to estimate, because of the variations in the content of their teaching and other factors. Even when pressed, one teacher could not estimate a figure. Several said that their preparation time was not specified in their contracts, but simply “factored into the hourly rate” that they were paid.
Probably the teachers who felt least constrained in their teaching were those working in community-based organisations.
No, I have no constraints at all. I can try anything I like, because you’re meeting that individual’s needs.
On the other hand, the workplace teachers were very aware of their need to satisfy the employers (part) funding of the programme – “productivity is always the bottom line here” – although several also acknowledged that they enjoyed a reasonable degree of autonomy and flexibility in their work.
