Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:
Teaching has been the noblest profession in the society from rise of civilization. However, teacher pay should depend on students’ performance is a hot button. In many circles, it is argued that the concept is very useful to enhance quality education, while others oppose the notion. In the instance, I am of the honest opinion that it is not the right yardstick to measure a teacher’s contribution towards students or society.

First and foremost, different students have different levels of capabilities and motivation. They learn at different paces due to their difference in qualities. Many a quality is not to be controlled by the teachers. Teachers have not much to do with these qualities, such as cognitive ability. For instance, if a hardworking, smart teacher conducts a class, the students eventually do well. However, when the same teacher gets a class consisting slower, lazy students, their performance will not touch the expected mark. Of course, teacher can teach all of these pupils and can enhance their knowledge and capabilities, but the salary depends on how his students perform is inherently unfair method because he is judged by some factors what are beyond his control.

Secondly, merit-based pay may entice competition between teachers that could harm the camaraderie of teachers. This results in a hostile atmosphere that is bound to detriment quality education. On the top of that, many unethical practices might be introduced if teachers are paid on students’ performance. In the condition, teachers will tend to put emphasis on test only. This means that teachers will not provide students with wide range of concept. Students will be taught only the things important for test.

To wrap up, if we delve into the factors regarding students’ performance, we will discern the factors lie in students’ success are socio-economic condition, family circumstance, individual passion and desire, and biological attributes. And all of which teacher have no control over. Therefore, teachers’ salary depending on students’ performance is a weird idea, I think.