This in-depth study of South African schools in the Journal of Education shows that SA's schools perform considerably worse than those in neighbouring countries where teachers' salaries are lower.
Conclusion: "The longer term project must be to move teachers toward a different habitus, where agency is intrinsic and the pursuit of knowledge the goal of professional life."
It points out that teacher absenteeism is a significant factor whereas pupil absenteeism is not.
Again the point is not to argue for lower wages, of course, but to highlight amongst other things the importance of ethos.
Tahir
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