Officials divided over incentives to better-qualified teachers - Khaleej Times

Thankfully, the debate is not whether to pay incentives, but whether to also increase their pay retroactively.

Better-qualified in this case means those holding masters and doctoral degrees. I hope consideration is also being given to incentives for better-performing teachers. These salary reforms are important for attracting and retaining the best teachers.

The young UAE nationals I have spoken to are very encouraged by the change in leadership at the Ministry of Education in November. There have been a number of other indications that the new leadership is instituting needed reforms that will improve the primary and secondary education system for nationals.

There is a disparity between the quality of education in the public system and the private schools and nationals have been switching into private schools as a result. Read more here. Given the large expatriate population, there is a large competitive market in private education in the UAE. (Have I made the implication obvious enough?)