Japan's Education Ministry Eyes Major Salary Hike for Teachers

Aug 23, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - As the popularity of teaching positions declines, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) has drafted a proposal to raise the additional allowance for teachers' salaries to 13% of their monthly pay, more than three times the current rate.

The salaries of public school teachers are regulated by the "Act on Special Measures concerning Salaries of Education Personnel" (Kyutokuho), which stipulates a 4% increase in monthly pay in lieu of overtime compensation.

However, compared to when the law was established in 1971, teachers' workloads have significantly increased, leading to persistent criticism that the 4% increase does not adequately compensate for the actual overtime hours worked. This has been cited as a contributing factor to the declining popularity of teaching as a profession in recent years.

Late last month, an expert panel at MEXT compiled a recommendation to improve the treatment of teachers by raising the additional allowance to over 10%.

In response, MEXT has incorporated the 13% increase into its budget request for the next fiscal year and will negotiate with the Ministry of Finance. If implemented, this would mark the first increase in nearly half a century.

Source: TBS

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