As a headmaster at a school he’d been recently brought into to run following severe maladministration by previous leadership, he knew a thing or two about teaching.
Unfortunately, this was also not the first time I'd heard this answer. As a bystander not working in the education system, it's easy for me to ask these kinds of questions and come up with my own conclusions - it's always easier for someone on the outside to think that they know the answer. However, there’s no denying that a good teacher has an indelible impact on a child’s life. Rita Pierson, a teacher with over 40 years of teaching experience, passionately makes this point in this inspiring TED Talk, which I love.
Apart from the heart stuff, metrics show that without good teachers, the quality of education suffers. This 2007 study on the top education systems in the world, commissioned by the global consulting firm, McKinsey, found that getting the right people to become teachers was one of the top 3 contributing factors to a good education system. The study suggests that improving the status of teaching as a career goes a long way to attracting people who are well-suited to the demands of teaching.
Bringing the problem back home – what to do? Although remuneration for teachers is a much-debated topic, it isn't guaranteed that a pay increase will in all cases attract those who are likely to be the best teachers. However, it seems to be the most logical solution to South Africa’s dire need for skilled . But given that teacherstwenty percent of our national budget has already been allocated towards education, how is the money being spent? Within this budget, how much attention is given to proper training and selection of teachers?
If you have any thoughts on this, I would love to hear them! Also, please give the poll on how you would improve teaching a go (in the top right-hand corner of this page)... Go here if you'd like to know more about Partners for Possibility, an innovative organisation that facilitates collaboration between business leaders and school principals.
*It would be a shame to write a post on this topic without thanking all the passionate teachers in our country who DO love what they do and inspire children to achieve their full potential. Thank you, without you, this country would be much poorer off.