Establishing effective teacher policies: guidelines for action

This document is a call to actively step up the implementation of more effective teacher policies in Latin America, building on the efforts that many countries in the region have already set in motion. To this end, ten policy guidelines are proposed that are fundamental to any reform of the teaching profession.

The main aspects that should be considered when formulating policies and practices conducive to excellent teaching are well-known: initial training (including ways to attract people to study to become teachers); careers (including procedures for entry, promotion, recognition and remuneration); teacher support systems (including continuous professional development); and management (including evaluation for continuous improvement). Empirical evidence on effective policies in each of these areas is not always enough to dispel major controversies. This document brings together various policy experiences from different institutional contexts, which illustrate alternative courses of action.