TEACHER MOTIVATION &

WORKING CONDITIONS

Breakout session B

WHY FOCUS ON TEACHER WORKING CONDITIONS? Increasing demand for qualified teachers has raised issues of teacher motivation.

Attracting and retaining good teachers – an overarching concern.

Positive Correlation between working conditions and teacher motivation indicates the need to improve working conditions.

5 LEVERS OF WORKING CONDITIONS

(AT SCHOOL LEVEL)

Teacher Working

Conditions

Classroom

School

Parent/Community

Profession

Individual

CHALLENGES - CLASSROOM Class size Language Learning needsSpecial & Disability

Formative assessments Multi-grade Teaching & Learning Materials Student Absenteeism Student Behavior/Classroom Management

CHALLENGES – SCHOOL Head Teacher Support/ Coaching FeedbackOpportunities Inclusive environment

Facilities/InfrastructureToilets, staffroom, electricity etc.

School ConditionsLocation - urban/ruralSafety Support from district/local bodies

Belongingness Peer collaboration Extra responsibilities Access to Professional Development within school Multi-shift teaching

CHALLENGES – PARENT/COMMUNITY

Involvement & Ownership of Parents/Community Strength of School Mgmt Committees & Parent Teacher Associations

CHALLENGES – PROFESSION Prestige/Status Recognition/Respect

Salary Autonomy Career Path Research/Learning opportunitiesAction Research

Constructive Feedback/Appraisal Best practices

CHALLENGES – INDIVIDUAL/TEACHER LIFE Basic needsPhysiological, Psychological Needs

Well-beingSatisfaction

Attitudes, Values, Beliefs

POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS - CLASSROOM Norms, Standards by International organizations being met Education Observatory Monitoring activities

National, Local, Classroom levels

Collect, Synthesize & Disseminate evidence based best practices & research Engage International Donors to condition the grants on meeting some basic international standards on the working conditions? Foster collaboration among teachers Engage parents and communities in classrooms Classroom management Volunteering system

POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS - SCHOOL Set standards and Implement legal frameworks for working conditions Mandate practicum activities for pre-service teachers Develop and use teacher MIS (across levels) to improve teacher deployment Have dialogues across ministries (education, finance etc) to address school working conditions Train school principals on pedagogy, instructional leadershipContent, ICT, 21st century topics

Continuous PD for School Leaders

RECOMMENDATIONS – PARENT/COMMUNITY Strengthen standards for SMCs, PTAs (as a support for teachers)Ensure meetings happen purposefullyEnforce their authority

Develop and implement literacy programmes for un/under-educated/illiterate groups

Train and Retain managers to better allocate teachers to school based on familiarity with contexts

Include/Invite/Involve Students, Parents, Community, Private sector stakeholders into school boards

Engage parents and communities Classroom managementVolunteering system

Engage all communities beyond financial contribution

POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS – PROFESSION Norms, Standards by International organizations

Salaries Monitoring activities National, Local, Classroom levels

Collect and Use Comparable Data on Professional aspects (salaries etc) to influence decision making

Ensure full participation of teacher task force to the International Expert Group on education workforce

Ensure that Salary standards enable a good standard of living Facilitate Social Dialogue between Teacher unions Legal framework

Consistently enforce recognition, reward systems for committed teachers

POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS – PROFESSION Foster collaboration among teachers & educators, academics Professional networksCommunities of PracticePeer to Peer learning

Empower teachers to carry out action research within/beyond classrooms Develop capacity

Treat rural teachers as a special group Devise special support systems for themResource plan for themSpecial focus/ Prioritization for this group

POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION – INDIVIDUAL Foster collaboration among teachers Professional networksCommunities of PracticePeer to Peer learning Working groupsConferences

Create forums for teachers to come together to show their best practices Strengthen teacher associations Have teacher celebration days periodically – excursions, talent shows etc.

OVERARCHING RECOMMENDATIONS School Professional & Career Development HT training, coaching, feedback, appraisal Learning opportunities like action research

Teacher basic needs Infrastructures ( sanitary facilities, teaching/learning material, classrooms)

Salary: good standard of living Treat rural teachers as a special group

Teacher Professional forums Peer to peer learning, best practices sharing, communities of practice

Community Engagement & Participation SMCs, PTAs, Interest groups