Global teacher shortage: the rise in job vacancies

The United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 69 million teachers are needed globally to provide universal basic education by 2030.

The lack of teachers is particularly acute across the Middle East and Africa where, according to UNESCO, 90% of secondary schools are facing serious teaching shortages. In Southern Asia, the region with the second largest deficit, it’s projected that an additional 1.7 million teachers will be required at primary level and 5.3 million at secondary level by 2030.

Data from our recruitment services, highlights the top ten regions with the sharpest rise in teacher vacancies throughout 2021-22. The table below shows the number of teaching jobs advertised across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, highlighting the regions with the largest increase in vacancies over the past 12 months.

Sarah Tate, Regional Head of Development, Asia, highlights the impact that the global teacher shortage is having on school budgets as teacher salaries and benefits packages increase to attract staff in a competitive market:

'Statistically and anecdotally, we are starting to see a downward turn in teacher recruitment in Asia. Fewer teachers are looking to work in some countries and less teachers are being recruited and trained in countries like the UK and Canada who have historically been feeder markets for international school recruitment in the region. And yet new schools continue to open and drive the demand for more qualified and experienced teachers. This has led to increased salaries and benefit packages for teachers as schools start to compete against each other to attract the right candidates.’

So as a school leader, how can you ensure you have the staff you need for your school and pupils to flourish?

One simple and effective way is to ensure that the talented team you’ve already built stay with you by enabling them to develop their career within your school. This means providing a nurturing and supportive environment and giving staff the training they need to take the next step in their career while they remain in your school. Progression doesn't have to mean promotion to leadership or changing job; training can help teachers to cultivate their professional expertise and classroom confidence. Offering a wide-ranging CPD programme and opportunities to make professional progression is also a great way to attract ambitious and motivated new staff to your school. Indeed, Sarah goes on to comment:

‘For many schools this [paying increased salaries and benefit packages] isn't a sustainable business model and so mindsets are changing and schools are starting to seriously consider long term recruitment strategies and how they can support teacher retention. Investing in professional development and teacher training for expat and also local teachers is helping them to support teacher retention and wellbeing, raise the standard of teaching and learning in the school, and improve student outcomes.’

Using our data and knowledge of the international teaching sector, we estimate that the average cost to replace a fully qualified teacher in Malaysia is £3,500, taking into account recruitment, hiring and training costs. However, school leaders that seek to invest in their staff and ‘grow their own’ qualified teachers by focusing on promoting from within could support a teacher to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) from only £3,000. 

Recruit and retain your talented staff

Our wide range of flexible, personalised online and in-school qualifications and courses can help you to develop your new and current staff at all stages of their career, providing them with the knowledge and qualifications to become world-class educators.

From trusted support staff and passionate graduates to confident teachers and leaders, our unique approach allows learners to study in their own time, learning from their peers as well as from highly experienced tutors. Take a look at our range of teacher training courses for international schools below.

Straight to Teaching
Our Straight to Teaching course prepares staff for qualified teacher status (QTS) assessment via our Assessment Only route while they continue to work at your school. It’s a high quality, low-cost route to becoming a qualified teacher that builds on their existing experience and is personalised to your staff and your school.

Assessment Only
Our Assessment Only route enables staff with at least two years’ teaching experience to be independently assessed against the English Teachers’ Standards and gain QTS within three months, without leaving your school.

International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE)
Our iPGCE is a Master's level, fully online learning course, provided in partnership with the University of East London (UEL), that helps staff to develop their teaching practice and pedagogy and take the next step in their international teaching career.

MA in Education with Pedagogy
Our Master’s in education with pedagogy is a top-up qualification that enables staff to transfer Level 7 credits from a PGCE or iPGCE and build on them to gain a full Master's degree focusing on teaching and learning.

Want to learn more about our training and development courses?

If you're a leader interested in supporting your staff to grow and progress take a look at our range of staff development programmes. If you want to train to become a teacher find out which Tes Institute course is right for you.