At the start of the presidential campaign, they are the object of all attention: the teachers. Anne Hidalgo (PS) ensures that she will double their salary, Jean-Luc Mélenchon tackles his "demagoguery", Jean-Michel Blanquer - Minister of National Education - recalls that he himself launched the site of the 2000 euros of net salary at the start of his career, while Michel Barnier (LR) wants remuneration “aligned” with those of the neighbors. We pamper them, we make them promises, we slap ourselves on the subject of their finances ... But in reality, what is the purses of teachers in France compared to that of colleagues from other so-called "developed" countries?
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is releasing its annual report “Education at a glance” this Thursday morning, in which it deciphers the pay slips of teachers in 36 of its 38 member countries (2 countries with no not transmitted their data), in addition to South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Brazil, China, the Russian Federation, India and Indonesia.
To base its comparisons, the organization has reduced all salaries in dollars and weighted them according to purchasing power in the different countries.
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Main teaching: if we compare the "statutory" salary, that is to say only the basic pay of certified teachers (holder of the Capes), the most common situation in the profession, French teachers are lagged behind and peaked at 20th place. In detail, their pay at the start of their career is 7% below the average for OECD countries, to settle at 28,624 euros per year - after weighting with purchasing power - for a teacher starting primary school. . For example, it is 58,930 euros in Germany. And that does not get better with seniority: after 10 or 15 years in the business, it tops out at 10 or 15% below the OECD average. "This is a finding that we have been making for ten years," notes Éric Charbonnier, an analyst specializing in education at the OECD.
However, since 2015, under the action of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem then that of Jean-Michel Blanquer, the minister in office, "we note a desire to increase these salaries, but the changes are small," said the specialist. At the end of August, Jean-Michel Blanquer notably mentioned attractiveness bonuses for 58% of teachers, up to 57 euros net per month, as well as an increase in starting salaries - which should go from 1700 euros net in 2020 to 1869 euros by 2022. "This is not likely to tilt the place of our wages in the international table, judge Guislaine David, spokesperson for Snuipp-FSU, the main first degree union, especially as only the beginnings careers are affected by most of these upgrades, ”she recalls.Expert Eric Charbonnier believes that the planned increases will simply "bring" French teachers closer to their counterparts in the leading peloton.
"Their subject is not only the salary, but also their working conditions"
Eric Charbonnier
But the finding is happier if we take into account the "actual salary", that is to say by considering bonuses and overtime.
Result: the remuneration of teachers in our country climbs in the ranking, to 12th place, above the OECD average.
Example for a high school teacher: 48,769 euros per year, against 46,202 euros for the average of all the countries taken into account in the study.
However, fewer teachers are affected by these salaries, especially in the first degree where the class time in front of the students, higher than in college and high school, prevents other activities.
But this calculation taking into account overtime "does not hold", judge Jean-Rémi Girard, spokesperson for Snalc, secondary union, classified on the right. “It's extra work, normal that it is paid! This does not mean better recognition of colleagues, ”he asserts. Also believing that international comparison has its limits. “We should start by comparing with other category A officials in France, thunders the trade unionist. A police captain starts his career at 2,400 euros net, a teacher at 1,500 euros! "
There remains one question: teachers (much) better paid elsewhere, certainly, but because they have less vacation? " Not necessarily. In the United Kingdom, the holidays are shorter, but not in Finland, where there are more holidays and much better paid teachers ”, tempers Eric Charbonnier. Which is not surprised that the subject is the guest of honor in the presidential debate. "It's usual, especially if we sprinkle this with controversy," sighs the analyst. Who quotes another OECD study on teachers, in which "less than 10%" of them consider themselves "valued". “Their subject is not only the salary, but also their working conditions, the state of the schools, the programmatic question,” he explains. This is also what the candidates for the supreme office must seize. "