Inflation and the Purchasing Power of Teachers

Teachers are presently worse hit by the current inflation. The steady rise of prices for goods and services for sometime now has really affected teachers with concomitant effect on our school children. If teachers’ income are fixed, definitely inflation would be a bad omen in running their affairs. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reduction in the purchasing power of money that are in the pockets of teachers.

The objective of most school teachers is to impact knowledge, which is adjudged globally as a veritable source of power in a seamless manner. This is specifically to ensure that students live and work successfully in any state that they find themselves in our globalized world.

However, in this days of inflation, most teachers in our schools now find it very hard to concentrate and often times now sleep off spasmodically in class. What is majorly responsible for this is insomnia that is occasioned by fatigue. This is as a result of too much thinking now usually associated with the economic reality in our dear country. Our teachers are worse hit and this now affects their total concentration.

Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so. People with insomnia can feel dissatisfied with their sleep and experience usually symptoms such as low energy, difficulty in concentrating, decreased performance in school and general fatigue.

What would make a teacher constantly drop his/her head on the table, in the staff room and sleep off? Worse still what would make you doze off during staff meetings, whilst important matters are being discussed. Why are you not addressing the constant embarrassment you suffer, when your students catch you sleeping or dozing in class?

A common culprit in this matter is the issue of this insomnia which is a recurrent experiences of inadequate sleep. Sleep is an essential part of good health and wellbeing. A good night’s sleep helps you feel good, look healthy, work effectively and think clearly.

Sleep impacts positively on your mind, body and soul. Your body’s organs and systems are at work, conducting healing and tissue repairs, whilst you are asleep. Your brain and mind re-calibrate whilst you are sleeping and body growths occur whilst you are asleep.

Sleep however is not always easy to come by. If you sometimes or always have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you are not alone especially now that the economic situation in our country is dire!

Daytime drowsiness is often indicative of a sleep problem that is potentially dangerous to your health, if not treated urgently. This is why government should critically look into this present economic crisis as it affects teachers in our schools.

The efforts of our teachers should be appreciated at all times more so, when they are the ones responsible for the training of our politicians and the wealthy people no matter the angle you look at this unassailable fact! Efforts should be geared toward bringing down of the current inflation since it ominously erodes the value of cash, and encourages teachers to spend their meagre emoluments on stock ups thereby losing focus on the teaching of our children.

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate