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The Varkey Gems Foundation recently published a study that compares the status of teachers in 21 countries worldwide. All of the countries had participated in the PISA examination; only one—Brazil—was from Latin America. The study found major differences in the way teachers are perceived by the public.

China accords teachers the highest status, and Israel the lowest. Brazil accords teachers the second lowest status among the 21 countries (see figure below, found on page 12 of the report). There was no apparent correlation between the status accorded teachers and student outcomes. An average of 75 percent of the respondents stated that teachers ought to be paid according to the performance of their pupils. There was a mixed picture on whether teacher unions have too much or too little influence over teachers’ pay and conditions. These and many more findings are available in the full report.