The teachers and principals pay agreement signed yesterday seems to make eminent sense if it encourages good educators to stay in the system and not to head for the greener pastures of private enterprise.

The pay settlement itself, with increases of three percent, is in line with inflation and that is correct, given the state of the economy.

And the increase in the number of sabbaticals is also welcomed.

It remains to be seen how many teachers will take up the opportunity to put aside quarter of their salary for four years in order to take the fifth year off, but the Government and the unions deserve credit for coming up with creative approaches to reduce burn-out and to improve retention.