Managing Teacher Costs for Access and Quality

This paper starts from an analysis of teacher remuneration levels across countries to identify the important trends which could influence access and quality. It then goes on to discuss a range of cost-effective strategies which have been employed by the state in developing countries to increase teacher numbers, improve teacher training and support, improve teacher performance and motivation, promote more equitable distribution of teachers and address gender inequities. The paper then examines a range of community responses to teacher shortage, and identifies some of the critical factors which influence their effectiveness. It concludes with an analysis of the main lessons learned to inform the development of individual country strategies to manage teacher costs to improve access and quality.