The Relative Effects of Certified Teachers on Their Pupils' Achievement

Abstract

In Egypt there is room for hiring some uncertified teachers to practise teaching, although the general rule in the country is to hire teachers who have received proper certification from colleges of education and/or schools of teaching to work as professional teachers at all levels of education. Whenever there is a shortage of these certified teachers, however, the Ministry of Education meets the need by hiring uncertified teachers and giving them some in-service training. The author conducted the present study to answer the question: Is there a relationship between certification of teachers and the achievement of their pupils? A random sample was taken of 210 teachers in elementary schools. Analysis of data revealed that pupils' achievements were significantly higher when they were taught by certified teachers than when they were taught by noncertified teachers.