Quality Awareness

Teachers in most countries would strongly agree that the quality of education has to be improved. EI released a policy paper outlining the key role that teachers play in providing quality education.

All studies acknowledge that teachers are the strongest in­fluence on quality learning. However of general importance for teachers' ability to improve the quality of education is the ability to reflect on their own teaching, critically examine the methods used and to look for alternative ways of teaching. To create an increased "quality awareness" among teachers and help teachers to improve their teaching methodology and skills may be of crucial impor­tance to improve quality in education. One major way of doing this is to systematically evaluate their own teaching and its results. In some coun­tries the main focus seems to be to evaluate the whole edu­cational system, while in other countries the emphasis seems to be on individual schools or even individuals.

There are several risks in rela­tion to present developments in the area of evaluation. One main risk is that it focuses too much on easily measurable school achievement, without taking into consideration the complexity of the reality in schools. In relation to this, there is also a risk that teach­ers will be side-stepped in the evaluation process and may only become objects of the process.

The professional freedom of the teacher is of crucial importance in developing quality in education. Professional freedom does not mean that the teacher can do whatever he or she likes, but that the teacher, who knows the students, is the per­son best equipped to decide which methods to use in order to create an optimal learning situation.

Professional and academic free­dom for teachers is also of cru­cial importance in achieving teaching that is independent of any political, economic, ideo­logical or religious influence, in order to preserve young peoples' right to and demo­cratic exercise of critical creativity.

What can governments do to support teachers?

Quality education is not only a responsibility of the teachers. There must be a public respon­sibility to ensure all citizens the right to receive quality education. Such an important matter cannot be left to individuals, private companies or to the market. To create quality education it is neces­sary to establish a good prac­tice and to meet demands at all levels (the classroom, the school/institution and the edu­cational system in which class­rooms and schools/institutions exist). It is not possible in the long run to establish good teaching in the classroom if schools and the educational system as a whole are func­tioning badly.

There are many examples of teachers trying to do thier best in spite of lack of support from local and national authorities. Such situations too often end with stress and the burn-out of the teachers. There are also bound to be problems in a sys-tem with an excellent curriculum, but where teachers are not provided with the nec­essary moral and financial sup­port needed to implement it.

A GOOD TEACHER IS ....

In 1996, the National Union of Teachers released a study which included the following description of a good teacher by a Scottish student in grade 2/3: "is very clever, doesn't shout, helps you every day, is not bossy, has faith in you, is funny, is patient, is good at work, tells you clearly what to do, helps you with mistakes, marks your work, helps you to read, helps you with spelling and has got courage." 

In conclusion, the EI paper suggests that in order to support teachers in their efforts to improve the quality of education, governments and relevant education authorities must:

•  provide education and professional development of high quality to teachers;
•  provide teachers and schools with the resources necessary to offer quality education;
•  see that teachers have a salary comparable with other professions requiring the same level of qualifications and responsibility; and 
•  ensure that teachers receive the moral recognition appropriate to their level of qualifications and responsibilities.