A generation ago, teaching was seen as a respected and secure career, and in some countries it still is. However, in many parts of the world the number of young people who wish to become secondary-school teachers has fallen sharply. This essay will examine the main reasons for this trend and suggest some practical solutions.

The first cause is that teachers are poorly paid compared with other graduate professions. For example, in Pakistan a newly qualified engineer or software developer often earns considerably more than a school teacher with the same degree. Private schools may pay better, but public-school staff, who teach the majority of pupils, rarely do. Consequently, ambitious graduates choose other careers. The solution is for the government to raise starting salaries and link pay rises to experience, which would make teaching financially competitive.

A second cause is that teachers are overloaded with marking, paperwork and large classes. In many state schools, for instance, a single teacher may be responsible for more than fifty pupils. As a result, many teachers work late into the evening and have little time for their families, so they become exhausted and leave the profession. One way forward could be to appoint more classroom assistants and to limit the number of hours a teacher may work each week. This would make the job far less stressful and more attractive to newcomers.

A third cause is poor pupil behaviour, which makes lessons difficult to manage. That is to say, teachers frequently deal with students who ignore instructions or are rude, and this discourages potential applicants. To tackle this issue, parents should teach their children to respect their teachers, and schools should apply clear and consistent rules. In addition, schools could provide training in classroom management so that new teachers feel prepared.

To sum up, low salaries, heavy workloads and indiscipline have made teaching a much less popular career. Although these problems are serious, I believe they can be solved. Unless governments and parents act soon, however, the quality of education will inevitably decline. In my view, the main responsibility lies with the government, but families must also play their part.

Problem & Solution Essays: Part 1