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| Students at Enrique Rebsamen Elementary School, Oaxaca (Photo: Miguel Demayuga) |
Mexico City - Among the 34 nations that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Mexico ranks fifth from the bottom for poor teacher pay. The country is above only Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. Furthermore, it spends the least per student at the basic level:
- Preschool, Mexico disburses $2,158;
- Elementary, $2,185; and in
- Junior High School, $2,535.
The study Teacher's Day: The Figures Speak, released by the Belisario Domínguez Institute of the Senate, also shows that of the total number of active teachers (1.9 million, according to SEP), higher education is the level showing the greatest increase in number of teachers. Between 2000 and 2011, the number of teachers at this level increased from 14.5 to 18.2% ... ; while during the same period, the number of teachers in elementary education fell from 70.7 to 65.8%.
According to INEGI [National Institute of Statistics and Geography], average class sizes are:
Mexican teachers spend an average of 800 hours in the classroom per year, which is very low when compared with the 1,083 hours per year in countries such as Chile and the United States, 980 hours; The Netherlands, 940 hours; Canada, 921 hours, according to the OECD study.
Survey of Perceptions
The study cites two surveys taken in 2013 by the Strategic Communications Group (SCG) and by BGC Beltran & Associates regarding popular support of the teachers' movements and the influence of teachers in students' lives.
According to the SCG survey, 32.2% of respondents indicated that a teacher had influenced his life, but 35.2% a teacher reported that a teacher had imposed physical punishment.
Among the characteristics considered for a good teacher:
In contrast, a bad teacher is one who is:
According to the SCG survey, 88.9% of respondents "Agree" that teachers should be evaluated, and 75.2% "Strongly Agree".
According to the survey of BGC Beltrán y Associates, 82% did not support the [dissident] teachers' movements against education reform. Young people aged 15 to 24 give the school an average confidence rating of 8.1; while in public universities it drops to 7.8. Spanish original
According to INEGI [National Institute of Statistics and Geography], average class sizes are:
- Elementary school, 21;
- Junior High, 14.5: and
- Senior High, 9.
Mexican teachers spend an average of 800 hours in the classroom per year, which is very low when compared with the 1,083 hours per year in countries such as Chile and the United States, 980 hours; The Netherlands, 940 hours; Canada, 921 hours, according to the OECD study.
Survey of Perceptions
The study cites two surveys taken in 2013 by the Strategic Communications Group (SCG) and by BGC Beltran & Associates regarding popular support of the teachers' movements and the influence of teachers in students' lives.
According to the SCG survey, 32.2% of respondents indicated that a teacher had influenced his life, but 35.2% a teacher reported that a teacher had imposed physical punishment.
Among the characteristics considered for a good teacher:
- 31.2% believe that he/she should have up-to-date knowledge of their subject;
- 28.4% that they explain the subject in a "way that is interesting, fun and entertaining"; and
- 16.4% that they have a good relationship with children and adolescents.
In contrast, a bad teacher is one who is:
- Aggressive or rude (30.3%);
- Does not know the subject (28%); or is
- Boring (sic).
According to the SCG survey, 88.9% of respondents "Agree" that teachers should be evaluated, and 75.2% "Strongly Agree".
According to the survey of BGC Beltrán y Associates, 82% did not support the [dissident] teachers' movements against education reform. Young people aged 15 to 24 give the school an average confidence rating of 8.1; while in public universities it drops to 7.8. Spanish original