The first hotline of its kind in the country has received dozens of calls from teachers suffering from work stress, misbehaving students and low pay.

Operators said the psychological support line has received a warm response from primary and middle school teachers after it was set up in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

Hotline founder Tao Laiheng, an expert in educational psychology with Nanjing Xiaozhuang Normal University, said an average of 20 teachers called every day a total of 200 since it started on December 8.

The number is expected to grow as more teachers get to know of its existence, Tao said.

He listed pressure from work, problems in dealing with naughty students, and economic burdens as being the most common three issues for teachers ringing the hotline.

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in April 2001, which involved 2,292 teachers from 168 primary and middle schools in Liaoning Province, found that 51 percent of them were suffering from various psychological problems. Similar surveys conducted later in Shanghai and Beijing also echoed the results.

Evidence from the new hotline suggests young teachers who have freshly begun their careers and who have little experience in teaching are most likely to suffer from psychological problems.

Tao said he decided to set it up for teachers after becoming aware of their problems from a hotline he created for primary and middle school children in 1992.

"Students called in and complained about their bad-tempered teachers the bad moods of the teachers would directly influence the students. So, I wanted to help the teachers deal with their psychological problems," Tao said.

According to Tao, of the 40 operators working for the hotline for teachers, 10 are professional psychological consultants, while the other 30 are experienced middle school teachers who are working on voluntarily basis.

Tao revealed that next year he wanted to hire more professional consultants who have obtained their certificates in psychological majors to work for the hotline.

Tao's hotline is reportedly the first in the country aimed at primary and middle school teachers.

Zhang Li, a 29-year-old teacher with No 1 Middle School of Nanjing, said the expectations of parents and society could put burdens on teachers.

"The primary and middle school students are at their formative ages. We teachers should do our best to set good examples for them, and ensure that they develop healthily and study hard," said Zhang.

According to Zhang, the fierce competition among schools is another reason that compels the teachers to work so hard.

"We have to guarantee that our class is among the best compared with our counterparts. To achieve this goal, I have to sacrifice almost all my spare time and hobbies."

With an average salary of 1,600 yuan (US$200), Zhang said she also felt great pressure to support her family and to buy a flat next year.

(China Daily December 20, 2005)