African Teacher Posts Payslip Showing How Much She Earns as a Teacher in China

A payslip shared on TikTok showing a primary school teacher in Shanghai earning close to KSh 940,000 a month before tax has sparked debate over whether the figure reflects what teachers in China usually make.

TikTok creator Boni Xaba posted the breakdown on October 10 in response to claims that a teacher in China earns more than KSh 780,000 monthly.

According to her, the teacher holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and works as a homeroom teacher, handling four classes a day. The teacher teaches Language Arts and Social Studies, not English as some people had assumed.

The payslip lists a basic salary of about KSh 600,000 (32,000 yuan), a housing allowance of KSh 112,000 (6,000 yuan) and an additional teaching allowance of KSh 99,000 (5,300 yuan). It also shows a semester bonus of KSh 99,000 (5,300 yuan) and overtime pay of roughly KSh 30,000 (1,600 yuan).

Total earnings come to 50,250 yuan, or about KSh 940,000. After tax deductions, the teacher takes home 48,530 yuan, which is roughly KSh 910,000.

Xaba stressed that the figure circulating online was not the teacher’s basic salary, since it included bonuses and overtime that may not be paid every month. She said the way the amount had been presented made it sound like the teacher’s standard monthly pay.

“I’m not saying this is a bad salary,” she said.

Social media users were divided on whether the pay is typical for teachers in China, with some seeing it as a rare package and others questioning how representative it is.

Source; https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KGq3BuhHb/