教师减负的博弈困境及其破解之道

On the logical dilemma and solution of teachers’ burden alleviation:From the perspective of game theory

中小学教师减负问题关系着基础教育改革的成败。虽自上世纪50年代就有舆论呼吁要给教师减负,但因其关联到教师、地方行政部门和家长(学生)等多方利害得失,故无法通过政府单独施策达成减负目的。从博弈论的视角出发,可以发现:上述三者相互作用即形成两个"囚徒博弈",从而使各方于主动或被动之中选择为教师"增负"以维持博弈平衡。打破"囚徒博弈"困境,关键在于施加"奖惩矩阵",引导家长(学生)和行政部门选取有利于为教师"减负"的策略。这就要求,一方面,在临近地方行政部门博弈中增加"廉价磋商",以缔结旨在制约双方陷入"囚徒博弈"的协议,促成双方改变竞争性"增负"局面;另一方面,通过转变行政部门与教师"零和博弈"的规则以增加总体效用,从而促使其转化成"正和博弈",最终改变行政部门习惯性的"增负"行为。

The burden alleviation of Primary and Secondary school means a lot to teaching quality of basic education. Although there has been pubic calls to reduce the burden of teachers’ since the 1950 s,we havenever achieved it because of the triple function of teachers,local government,parents(pupils). As they are in different situation,they formed two different"Prisoner’s Dilemma Game". The key to break through the dilemma is to bring in"Rewards and punishments matrix"so that parents(pupils)and local governments could choose the best option to facilitate teachers’ burden alleviation. From one side,introducing"Cheap talk"into the game between two different local governments,they could come into the agreement which stops them increasing burden on teachers. On the other side,though revising game rules between local government and teachers and adding total utility in game,they could transfer"zero-sum game"into"positive-sum game"and change the burden increasing situation.