The issue of how to improve the quality of education has attracted the public
attention all over the world. Some may argue that raising teachers' paycheck
is the best way to achieve such goal. In my opinion, despite several benefits,
this proposal is not the best solution.
Admittedly, raising teachers' salaries is a good way to boost better education
performance. Since a high salary represents a highly valued and appreciated
job, to give teachers a more decent paycheck may improve their self-esteem
and propel them to optimize their syllabus. Besides, a higher salary makes
the job market more competitive. In the past, the brightest intellectuals
may pick more challenging and profitable jobs; however, with the salary-
raising policy, teachers would become more desirable. Since quality of
teachers largely determines that of the education, we could expect better
education with the boom of highly qualified teachers. However, to say
raising teachers' salaries is the best option is definitely an overstatement.
In fact, teachers receiving higher paycheck means students having to afford
more tuition fees. In this case, more families would have to face heavy
financial burden, where kids can be easily affected. Some from poor families
would even have to drop out. According to a recent survey conducted by Chinese
Academy of Social Science, after polling hundreds of teenage drop-outs,
most respondents claimed that considering the increasingly high tuition fees,
working at an early age becomes a better way out. It seems to me that there
must be other ways to improve the education without making it an unaffordable
one.
In addition, schools can provide trainings to teachers. This is a more direct
and effective way to promote educational development. My college is a good
case in point. Last year, among all the sophomores, only three in ten passed
College English Band 4. But this year the number soared to seven in ten.
The secret is that all the teachers received a one-month training. Trainers
were several returned alumni majoring in TESOL. Not only did they impact
theoretical knowledge, but they also shared experience on communicative
and interaction skills. After those lectures and seminars, English classes
became more student-centered. Obviously, offering teachers better teaching
aid is more efficient than just handing out material reward.
All in all, although raising teachers' salaries can improve education level
to some extent, it is by no means the most favorable way and other methods
should also be taken into account.