PISA has long established that high-performing education systems tend to pay their teachers
more. They also often prioritise the quality of teaching over other choices, including
class size. But in the current budgetary climate, paying everybody more may not be a
viable alternative. So many countries are now targeting salary increases to schools with
particular needs or short supplies of teachers, or have developed greater local flexibility
in salary schemes. Some countries have responded with systems of individual pay. But is
recognising and rewarding teaching performance through pay an effective way to leverage
improvement?
