Good news for teachers on Teachers' Day

Dongguan Times
September 10, 2008

A sudden eruption of teacher-related news in today's newspapers reminds readers that the otherwise unremarkable September 10th is Teacher's Day in China.

Some newspapers ran a front-page story on Premier Wen Jiabao dining with eight teacher representatives in Zhongnanhai yesterday. During their meeting, Wen told the teachers, "teaching is the most splendid profession under the sun."

Similar ceremonial events were also held by lower-level governments. The main image on the front page of the Guangdong-based Dongguan Times shows Li Yuquan, mayor and vice-secretary of the city of Dongguan, meeting with teachers at a cocktail party. The caption on the image reads "respect teachers" (尊师).

East Asia Economy and Trade News, a Changchun-based newspaper, reported that within the next three years, the provincial government will pay teachers' back wages for the period from 1993 to 2004. The decision was announced by Han Changfu, the governor of Jilin, at a Teachers' Day celebration ceremony yesterday.

East Asia Economy and Trade News
September 10, 2008

It is reported that local governments that still owe money to teachers will not be allowed to buy new cars or construct new office buildings. Low-level governments deferring salary payments to teachers and using the money for other purposes has long been a nagging issue and a focus for complaint.

In Guangdong, "temporary teachers" (代课教师), a term for the unlicensed teachers who teach on short-term contracts, will be eliminated by the year 2009, Dongguan Times reportes.

Temporary teachers, who are usually underpaid compared to licensed teachers, are believed to affect adversely the quality of education. A qualification exam will be arranged to decide if they will be given a teaching license; those who cannot pass will eventually be fired.