This week’s motion concerned whether teachers’ pay should be tied to their students’ academic performance. The government, applying a rational choice approach, argued that the current system does not provide sufficient incentives for teachers to maximise their students’ achievement. They contended that increased accountability and performance-based pay would motivate teachers to work harder, particularly to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students. The opposition countered that this argument overlooked the agency of students and the many factors outside the classroom that influence educational attainment. They argued that linking pay to student performance could produce unintended consequences, including resentment among teachers and a decline in educational standards due to increased pressure and reduced morale. After a closely contested debate, the government side, led by Dilara Gencer and Saleha Hashemi, ultimately prevailed. They secured the win by responding more convincingly to the opposition’s arguments and defending the case for performance-related pay.