The status of teachers varies widely across countries, according to a new survey, with educators in China having the highest social standing of the 21 countries measured.
The study, conducted by the nonprofit Varkey GEMS Foundation, based in the United Arab Emirates, surveyed 1,000 people in 21 countries and constructed a “global teacher status index” based on the responses. The survey included questions about how teachers are respected compared to other professions, whether parents would encourage their children to become teachers, and how much (and how) teachers should be paid.
China, Greece, Turkey, and South Korea, in order, top the list of places where teachers are most respected, while the United States ranks ninth. Teachers have the lowest social status in Israel, with Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Italy not far ahead.
The survey also notes that average teacher pay is highest in Singapore, at $45,755, and lowest in Egypt at $10,604. The U.S. average was $44,917.
