Should long-term relief teachers be paid better?

Question

Some schools are so short of teachers that they have engaged the help of people who can't teach full-time due to faily commitments. While some relief teachers are 'nannies' to the class that they relief, there're some teachers who actually take on a class full-time as there aren't sufficient teachers. Should these teachers be better paid? It's been said that the Ministry doesn't want to 'reward' people who just want to work part-time, but surely there're people out there who genuinely can't work full-time? Long term relief teachers do actually complete the work prescribed by the school and help the 'permanent' teachers accomplish their goals (and promotions), so why shouldn't they be rewarded? If the Ministry wants to penalise this group of helpless people, they need to examine if they're "fair" employers.

Answer 1

Do you mean 'paid better' as compared to short-term relief teachers? Of course it should.

Or do you mean comparing to full-time teachers? That is really hard to say. Generally full time teachers have gone through (and paid for) a proper training in education, and it is logical to reward them for it.

However, it does not always mean that the full time teachers do a better job in teaching/more competent. I had been taught by a relief teacher before, and I find that I can understand her better (maybe its due to the smaller age gap). I had been a relief teacher before (while waiting for my university school term to start) in a primary school. And I can say (forgive me) that I have more knowledge than 90% of the teachers there. I hear things like "what? a whale is a mammal huh? I dunno leh" and "hey how to do this maths question ah?" (yes, they are the exact words) from the full-time teachers most of the time. My students feedback to me that they actually learn more from me than their assigned teacher (who was on maternity leave).

Maybe it is hard for the Ministry to measure output, and to pay according to competency. Therefore they can only pay according to paper qualifications.

Answer 2

Depends.

If some relief teachers just do nothing in your class, just ask you to shut up and do whatever thing you want, thats a NO!

If some relief teachers, actually teach you dilligently, then thats a YES!

But after such a long time having relief teachers,

I've observed. And 98% of them usually ask us to do our own stuffs but dont make too much noise.. Or we'll have some personal life chat with her/him etc.. So they do nothing.. And we basically, learn nothing. So if they still get paid for doing nothing, it aint fair for those full-time teachers. So the minister have no choice but to do this descision.

Answer 3

Long term relief teachers in the UK ( those who do a good job) should be paid more.

Answer 4

I'm sorry but when I have a relief teacher in I always have to reteach the learning content, not only that they don't do any marking, planning etc.  I've heard them say that they are just "well paid babysitters".  These teachers get paid the hourly rate that permanent teachers get paid.Why should they get paid extra money when there is no commitment or accountability.   For those teacher who are excellent relief teachers thank-you for going beyond what is expected, however there are many teachers that do the bare necessity and therefore cannot secure permanent work.

Answer 5

NO! whenever i have had a releif teacher, you pretty much dont learn anything, this has happened in my three different schools, so no idont think so

Answer 6

Like a substitute?  Long term subs are typically paid more than one who subs on a day by day basis.  Typically those hired out for long term positions are those who have been with the district and have been educated in education.  In my district long term subs are paid 66% more than day to day subs.

Long term subbing is different than day to day.  Long term are typically responsible for the curriculum and actual teaching.  Day to day subs should NEVER be responsible for teaching new things in my opinion.  I rarely have a sub, but when I do I use it as an opportunity for practice.  It is simply more fair to all involed.