On October 10, CESI Expert Commission on “Education” was hosted by its French teachers’ union SPELC in Paris.

Under the aegis of CESI’s SYNCRISIS project, the members continued the discussion on the consequences brought by the post-Covid era, by the war in Ukraine and inflation, which, together with other challenges, have been having a major impact on the teacher profession.

A so-called ‘crisis of vocation’ in the teaching profession is namely causing worrisome teachers’ shortages across all Europe. The education sector has long faced issues of understaffing, which has been exacerbated by the recent crises, leading to work overload, burnout, and a decline in the wellbeing in schools.
Many educational institutions lack the necessary infrastructure and modern equipment to provide a conducive learning environment. This issue has become more pronounced with the shift to online and hybrid learning models during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring that schools are well-equipped with the latest technology and resources is crucial for the continuity and effectiveness of education.

Corinne Heckmann from the OECD in Paris held a presentation on teachers’ shortages, exacerbated in recent years by factors like unsatisfactory salaries, high stress due to administrative workloads and an ageing workforce. The TALIS survey, which covers teachers’ opinions across 48 education systems, reveals significant dissatisfaction related to the recognition and valuation of the teaching profession, pointing to a need for systemic changes to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction. To address these challenges, the report recommends improving salaries, reducing administrative tasks, enhancing professional development, investing in school infrastructure, and promoting the societal value of teaching. Supporting young teachers with mentorship programs is also crucial to retain talent in the profession.

All participants agreed that on the one hand there are always higher expectations on teachers, while on the other hand the respect towards the profession is lower, from the society in general.

Luc Viehé, former President of the French SPELC union and Vice-president of the EDUC expert Commission recalled CESI’ s advocacy work to better value the teaching profession through its Manifesto, declaring “In the framework of the European Education Area, if we focus our efforts on the needs and challenges faced by teachers, we can build a more resilient and effective education system capable of supporting students through current and future crises. Teachers are at the forefront of shaping future generations, and their well-being and professional support are crucial to the success of this endeavor”.