What Do Prospective Teachers Retirees’ Fear about Retirement?
By Jaquiline Amani
This qualitative study explored prospective teacher retirees’ perceived fears about retirement and identified key drivers of retirement anxiety. Data were collected through focus group discussions with 22 teachers from two regions of Tanzania. The participants were purposively selected from public schools and had ten years or less remaining before reaching voluntary or mandatory retirement age. Thematic analysis revealed that teachers’ fear of retirement was shaped by multiple, interconnected factors, including anticipated social exclusion, income reduction and financial insecurity, loneliness resulting from disrupted daily routines, health and aging concerns, and fear of death influenced by observations of post-retirement experiences of colleagues. Changes introduced by the Social Security Act further intensified anxiety, particularly regarding pension adequacy, benefit calculations, and delays in payment. However, a small number of participants viewed retirement positively, perceiving it as a blessing when adequately planned for and psychologically accepted. The findings underscore the importance of early and comprehensive retirement preparation, improved financial literacy, clear communication of pension policies, and psychosocial support to enhance teachers’ well-being and confidence as they approach retirement.
Source SSRN
