Their appointment is based on the rank applicants hold in the list derived from their grades in a competitive exam, plus other points they might get for a variety of reasons, and their preferences. It also points out that such an approach works best where parallel steps are taken to ensure that efficiency and equity are not jeopardised. Such steps include: developing school directors' skills in personnel management, providing disadvantaged schools with greater resources with which to recruit effective teachers, and improving information flows and monitoring the teacher labour market. "