Better Salaries Just One Way to Attract, Keep Best Teachers
The question now is whether higher salaries will increase the appeal of the teaching profession.
The Revised Act on Special Measures Concerning Teachers' Salaries was recently enacted to improve teachers' working conditions and rectify long working hours.
Among other things, the measure will increase the "teaching adjustment amount." This is equivalent to overtime pay for public school teachers. It will also promote work-style reforms.
The popularity of teaching as a profession is declining. Addressing the problem, this legal reform aims to "secure outstanding human resources." However, will a slight boost in pay be enough to achieve that objective?
First, we hope that the government will continue to conduct reforms. Meanwhile, the goal is to improve the quality of teachers so that teaching will become a calling that is truly respected.
For teachers, it is difficult to precisely define their working hours. Instead of overtime pay, they are currently paid a flat fee calculated at a rate of 4% of their monthly salary. This is considered a salary adjustment.
Under the revised law, starting in 2026 the rate will be increased by 1% annually until it reaches 10%. At the same time, boards of education will be required to formulate plans to reduce overtime hours and promote health management for teachers.
The teaching adjustment allowance has remained unchanged for half a century. It was first introduced in the Special Salary Law (Act on Special Measures Concerning Salaries and Other Conditions for Education Personnel of Public Compulsory Education Schools, etc) enacted in 1971.
During this period, the average overtime hours worked by teachers ballooned from about eight hours a month at the time the law was passed to 41 hours a month at elementary schools. Moreover, it reached 58 hours a month at junior high schools during the 2022 academic year. A teacher supervises candidates taking a general selection exam at a public high school in Osaka Prefecture.
Adjusting the amount paid for teacher overtime is certainly needed. But in order to encourage motivated personnel to make optimal use of their skills, it is essential to also improve other aspects of the work environment.
No doubt every workplace has its share of slackers who are constantly complaining. Nonetheless, in our schools there is a yawning chasm between teachers who forget to eat and sleep because they are constantly thinking about their pupils and teachers who are total washouts. Parents will not be convinced if we only improve the treatment of apathetic teachers who cannot properly perform their teaching duties.
The government should come up with measures to reward enthusiasm among teachers. Some ideas for this include providing more training opportunities and expanding research funding.
There is a serious shortage of teachers throughout Japan. And concerns are growing over a decline in the quality of education. A survey on the problem was conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. It found the competition rates (number of candidates per open position) for the FY2024 public school teacher recruitment exam were 2.2 times for elementary school. For junior high schools, the rate was 4.0, and for high schools, 4.3. These were the lowest levels on record.
What is the reason for the decline in the number of candidates? This problem needs to be verified from multiple angles and then steps taken to improve the situation. For example, it would be counterproductive to prioritize work-style reform if it undermines motivation among teachers.
The kind of system needed is one that does not isolate teachers. Instead, it should allow them to cooperate both inside and outside the school, with both parents and their local communities.
Teaching is the first profession that engages with children directly ー through their classroom teachers. We should aim to create a classroom environment in which students will look up to and aspire to be "like" their teachers.
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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このページを 日本語 で読む The question now is whether higher salaries will increase the appeal of the teaching profession. The Revised Act on Special Measures Concerning Teachers' Salaries was recently enacted to improve teachers' working conditions and rectify long working hours. Among other things, the measure will increase the "teaching adjustment amount." This is equivalent to overtime pay for public school teachers. It will also promote work-style reforms. The popularity of teaching as a profession is declining. Addressing the problem, this legal reform aims to "secure outstanding human resources." However, will a slight boost in pay be enough to achieve that objective? First, we hope that the government will continue to conduct reforms. Meanwhile, the goal is to improve the quality of teachers so that teaching will become a calling that is truly respected. For teachers, it is difficult to precisely define their working hours. Instead of overtime pay, they are currently paid a flat fee calculated at a rate of 4% of their monthly salary. This is considered a salary adjustment. Under the revised law, starting in 2026 the rate will be increased by 1% annually until it reaches 10%. At the same time, boards of education will be required to formulate plans to reduce overtime hours and promote health management for teachers. The teaching adjustment allowance has remained unchanged for half a century. It was first introduced in the Special Salary Law (Act on Special Measures Concerning Salaries and Other Conditions for Education Personnel of Public Compulsory Education Schools, etc) enacted in 1971. During this period, the average overtime hours worked by teachers ballooned from about eight hours a month at the time the law was passed to 41 hours a month at elementary schools. Moreover, it reached 58 hours a month at junior high schools during the 2022 academic year. A teacher supervises candidates taking a general selection exam at a public high school in Osaka Prefecture. Adjusting the amount paid for teacher overtime is certainly needed. But in order to encourage motivated personnel to make optimal use of their skills, it is essential to also improve other aspects of the work environment. No doubt every workplace has its share of slackers who are constantly complaining. Nonetheless, in our schools there is a yawning chasm between teachers who forget to eat and sleep because they are constantly thinking about their pupils and teachers who are total washouts. Parents will not be convinced if we only improve the treatment of apathetic teachers who cannot properly perform their teaching duties. The government should come up with measures to reward enthusiasm among teachers. Some ideas for this include providing more training opportunities and expanding research funding. There is a serious shortage of teachers throughout Japan. And concerns are growing over a decline in the quality of education. A survey on the problem was conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. It found the competition rates (number of candidates per open position) for the FY2024 public school teacher recruitment exam were 2.2 times for elementary school. For junior high schools, the rate was 4.0, and for high schools, 4.3. These were the lowest levels on record. What is the reason for the decline in the number of candidates? This problem needs to be verified from multiple angles and then steps taken to improve the situation. For example, it would be counterproductive to prioritize work-style reform if it undermines motivation among teachers. The kind of system needed is one that does not isolate teachers. Instead, it should allow them to cooperate both inside and outside the school, with both parents and their local communities. Teaching is the first profession that engages with children directly ー through their classroom teachers. We should aim to create a classroom environment in which students will look up to and aspire to be "like" their teachers. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
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