So far this year, a record-shattering 8.8 million people have taken the exam to qualify for teaching positions in China’s primary and secondary schools. Why do so many people suddenly want to become a teacher? Analysts and web users share their thoughts.
“A lot of factors pushed the number of the teachers certification exam takers to an all time high,” read a commentary on news website The Paper. “Being a teacher comes with some perks, and the [weak] job market also plays a role. Still, a direct contributor to the fast-growing popularity of this exam is that the government raised the bar for teachers, making passing the exam a prerequisite for everyone wishing to become a teacher or to hold a teaching position.”
Although it is good news, one cannot look only at the number of people taking the exam and say teaching has become a coveted job, the author wrote.
Social media and forum users were more blunt with their comments.
“If a corporate job came with that much paid leave, I wonder if so many people would still be trying to become a teacher,” one netizen wrote.
“We just want one more option. More certificates, more job opportunities,” wrote another.
Getting more people to sit for the exam is one thing; getting more good teachers to stay on is another, the commentator said, adding that school teachers are still overworked, underpaid and distracted by non-essential administrative duties.
“No matter if it's a popular job or not, our teachers deserve to be treated better," the author concluded.
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