Although circumstances that can activate burnout are common in all subjects, those who teach social studies may be more susceptible to it because the profession requires teaching for democratic values and critical thinking, even when cultural influences and the political climate are not supportive of those objectives. In this article, the author examines unfavorable working situations in Africa that do not allow for job satisfaction for social studies teachers. Those factors include large classes, lack of administrative support, inadequate professional training, lack of instructional materials, and externally driven examinations. He also offers suggestions for addressing those unfavorable working conditions.