Why do some still want to be teachers in 2023?

The teaching profession is no longer popular. For ten years, national education has been going through an unprecedented crisis and deplores an alarming shortage of educational personnel. in question ? Difficult working conditions and objectives that do not correspond to the means and wages granted. In an article published this morning in Le Monde, however, teachers testify to their love for their profession and share what keeps them motivated.

So what keeps teachers going in 2023?

The teacher crisis and the teacher stove

Jean-Michel Blanquier was committed to ” Making the teaching profession more attractive during the last Grenelle of education. Two years and a new minister later, the situation continues to deteriorate and the 2023 teacher competition shows a 38% drop in enrollment compared to 2021. For the Capes, this drop is 21%.

Primary and secondary school teachers have long warned of the lack of resources and considerations reserved for the teaching profession. j, a nursery and elementary school teacher, lists the many dysfunctions that can discourage new professions. Starting with the lack of dedicated training: one year for trainee students and new owners, and 12 days for holders of a MEEF Master or former contract employees who pass the competition. Teachers feel left out and have to deal with ever-increasing numbers and ever-increasing expectations:

My colleagues had to teach 29 small section students, sometimes alone in the absence of ATSEM. It is no longer education, it is battery farming. There is a mismatch between the ever-increasing expectations of the institution and the resources made available to us.

If the working conditions are harsh, the salary isn’t up to par. For example, an intern receives only 1500 euros the first year, despite the Bac+5 diploma.

Working conditions are not only deteriorating for teachers, but we work opposite humans in construction, for public schools… Symbolically, it’s revolting.

School crisis: when teachers hold on

According to UNSA’s annual Job Barometer, only a quarter of teachers would recommend this job to future professionals. However, nearly eight out of ten are happy to exercise it and seven out of ten find meaning in their mission. Testimonials from professors posted on The world above all to evoke the richness of the relationship with the students. Their curiosity, learning, and recognition continue to delight their teachers, as explained j :

What matters is that in the classroom we see magical moments and great victories. It is an extremely creative profession. Organizing the picture, knowledge, observing (…) is incredible.

To support a dysfunctional and opaque system, these teachers have their own strategies. Creation of cultural projects, training (on leisure time), if the allocated means are insufficient, the teachers manage. Some also join associations, for example the Circle of research and educational actionto generate their own resources and organize themselves. jhas chosen to be an activist in the CGT Educ’action union:

We must always think collectively and not stand alone. What also keeps me going is being unionized and fighting to change things rather than resigning! This is the strength of the collective!

If the teachers are still numerous to get involved with the students, the liver attack awaits even the most motivated among them. We therefore hope that these vocations will finally be recognized at their true value.

Photo credit image of one: Photographic Images