Abstract

Fear of failure to achieve educational outcomes is one of the greatest fears any teacher experiences. In this study, fear that specifically manifests itself in the educational environment is identified as Tobephobia. Tobephobia in school-based education can manifest in many ways such as: systemic changes in education; major changes in the design of the curriculum without the concomitant continuous professional development of teachers; inadequate professional skills to cope with multicultural education; racism in education; and the effects of the violent behaviour of learners. This paper is based on the qualitative research accomplished by the author on the manifestation of fear within the educational milieu and its effects on learning outcomes. Educators who were interviewed did not deny the existence of TBP and its effects on their cognitive (IQ) and emotional (EQ) competences. The research findings strongly suggest that the fear of failure to achieve educational outcomes is predominantly based on five major (interlocking) phases in the Achievement Cycle. These five phases namely, Strengths, Weaknesses, Expectations, Abilities, and Tensions can easily be identified with our essential nature which is the state of being that fuels our passion and gives us an abiding sense of purpose. This is a generic model that is usable or suitable to conduct a SWEAT analysis of the effects of Tobephobia in the educational milieu to address problems and consider possible solutions.