The changing landscape of teaching

This chapter describes the age, experience and gender distribution profiles of lower secondary teachers and school principals in countries and economies participating in TALIS and examines how their demographic characteristics and experience have evolved since 2008. It explores how teachers deal with societal changes that have created new contexts for teaching, with increasingly diverse classrooms and schools. It also explores the practices implemented in schools to respond to student diversity, as well as teachers’ preparedness and confidence to teach in these more diverse environments. The chapter then turns to school and classroom climate as an important lever within the school for students’ learning and well-being, as well as for teachers’ confidence and commitment to teaching. Finally, it sets the scene for the remainder of the report by identifying school resources issues that, according to teachers and school leaders, particularly require action.