Enric Prats
Professor of Pedagogy at the University of Barcelona
We have excellent, committed, motivated, and well-trained teachers, but the system doesn't allow them to develop their full potential. After many years of underinvestment, the education system has offered professionals insufficient conditions to sustain this commitment to quality. Without specific policies for teacher development and support, it is very difficult for them to meet the challenge of improving educational outcomes, no matter how committed they are. Education systems should take advantage of this high level of professionalism to promote structural reforms that improve the well-being and conditions of the profession. Without decisive action, stress and demotivation figures could worsen in a few years, as is already happening in other countries struggling to attract and retain teachers.