The report that tells the truth about teachers' salaries: it's not the money but the method
Wage disparities among the highest in the world, a jump in the departure of young teachers: at the same time as the negotiations leading up to the start of the school year, the Commissioner of Salaries in the Treasury publishes the report on salary expenses in the education system for the 2018 school year, from which it appears that it is possible that the teachers' organizations are not part of the solution but rather the essence of the problem
Walla!
Of money
01/08/2022
Monday, 01 August 2022, 08:28 Updated: 08:59
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Young teachers are thrown out of the system, which does not set them sufficiently rewarding goals (Photo: ShutterStock)
At the same time that new salary agreements are being negotiated with the various teachers' organizations, the Commissioner for Salaries and Labor Agreements at the Treasury, Kobi Bar Natan, is publishing the teachers' salary report for the 2020-2021 academic year, which reveals several structural problems that, apparently, show that it is possible that the problem is not with the education budget and teachers' salaries, but with the way it is managed and distributed.
In other words, what the report says, without explicitly stating it, is that the teachers' professional organizations, with whom the salary negotiations are conducted, may not be part of its solution. to the problem. They are partners in a management that prioritizes the holders of more senior positions, some of whom were appointed based on seniority and connections and not on the basis of skills, at the expense of outstanding young people - thus essentially paving the way out for forces that seek to improve the level of education in Israel.
As long as it is not possible to employ teachers on a personal contract, which is rewarded according to achievements, the education system will not be able to absorb into its ranks teachers with alternative earning potential.
In light of the sensitivity of the timing, Kobi Bar Natan refrained from saying this explicitly, but even given a higher compensation for teachers, it is doubtful whether the level of the education system, which has reached its lowest point, will improve - in the days when schools hire teachers of a nursing standard, without the need for pedagogical skills or prior studies.
It is very doubtful whether this will contribute to the atmosphere in the negotiation rooms between the teachers' union and the Ministry of Finance, but the report shows - implicitly, of course, that as long as the distribution of funds within the system is distorted, the sad state of affairs of the education system will not change.
The head of the Teachers' Union, Yaffe Ben David, demonstrates in favor of improving their wages. The problem is less in the amounts and more in the way of distribution (Photo: Reuven Castro)
The main points of the report: gaps, departure and vacations
The government education system includes approximately 137,000 teaching staff: kindergarteners, teachers and administrators.
The average monthly salary for a full-time position is NIS 13,971, and the average monthly salary for a teaching employee is NIS 12,423.
The salary cost of all teaching staff in formal education was about 27 billion in 2015, which is 6.3% of the State of Israel's budget.
Salary gaps
: young teaching staff earn about 29% of the salary of veteran teaching staff. This significant gap stems from two reasons: The first is the base salary disparity, which is one of the highest in the world, and the second is the low job rates that characterize an average job for a beginning teacher.
This combination means that the salary for an employee in the first years is very low in relation to the economy. In recent years, the salary disparity in the education system has narrowed slightly, in accordance with the policy of the salary division and in cooperation Teachers' organizations.
The wage disparity is also reflected in the salary increase for fulfilling an additional position such as a class coordinator or educator, the veterans among them receive up to 2.68 times the higher remuneration than holders of identical positions at the beginning of their careers
.
This statistic seems seemingly innocent, but even though the person in charge of the salary does not interpret it, but only quotes it as his word, it reflects a sad reality: associates who get promoted are the ones who manage to reach a nice salary level.
Leaving teachers
: In this report, for the first time, the data of the Central Bureau of Statistics regarding the work breaks of teachers in the years 2015-2015 are presented.
The data indicate a dramatic increase in work breaks (about 60%) in veterans 2-5 over the past three years
. On average, the phenomenon of teachers' work breaks has been stable throughout the last decade. This figure significantly strengthens the need to invest in beginning teachers.
International comparison
:
From the OECD data, it appears that teachers' salaries are similar to what is accepted in the world compared to similar workers, and it is not low in an international comparison
.
The OECD data also shows that the number of hours students study in Israel and the number of school days - are high compared to the other countries in the organization.
Vacation days: The students in Israel study more days than all the countries in the European Union.
Despite the relatively large number of school days, the gap between students and the rest of the economy is 75 days, which is about 30% of the working days per year
.
Gender gaps: The gender gaps in the education system are among the lowest in relation to the economy as a whole and stand at 4%.
Also, they are gradually and steadily reduced.
At the same time, the gender gap is reflected in the filling of senior positions: men make up less than 15% of the teaching staff, but more than 30% of the managers.
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"Option for personal contracts"
Kobi Bar Natan, the salary commissioner
: "This report is published on the eve of a new agreement with the teachers, designed to build the foundation for our children, the future generation.
The data that emerges from the report, especially regarding the wage gap between the young and veteran teachers, and the large number of departures in the first years - emphasize the need for significant compensation for the young teachers, for the possibility of personal contracts in sought-after professions and for an agreement that will move the education system forward. A great responsibility rests on our shoulders as those responsible for The public purse and we must make sure that the use of public funds will make the education system the best. Our commitment is to promote a good and worthy agreement for students, parents, teachers and administrators."
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Teachers' salary
Teachers Union
The person in charge of the salary in the Treasury
Kobi bar Natan
The education system