The Ministry of Education and Science has fulfilled all the promises made to teachers so far, Minister of Education and Science Anda Caksa (New Unity) said in an interview with Latvian Radio this morning.
She explained that additional funding was needed to implement the changes. “We understand that one of the reasons for burnout is the large number of teaching hours,” the minister said and stressed that nothing is changing this year, the changes will come next year when additional funding is available.
“So that there is an opportunity not to overwork teacher and for them to receive good pay,” said Caksa, pointing out that all the promises made to teachers have been kept so far.
At the same time, in order to attract new teachers, not only the issue of salaries but also the issue of prestige is crucial. Efforts should be made to improve teachers’ working conditions, the minister added.
The ministry is also currently negotiating with local authorities to ensure that they do not reduce the workload of pre-school teachers, thus avoiding salary increases for pre-school teachers.
Meanwhile, Inga Vanaga, Chair of the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA), said in an interview on TV3 this morning that the union wants to ensure that the government fulfills what it agreed on last year.
“Every new offer is making the situation worse,” Vanaga said.
She also pointed out that what is currently on the table means that teachers will have to work harder to get the salaries they have been getting.
Vanaga stressed that she does not see any possibility to reach an agreement with Caksa at the moment, which is why Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) has a big role to play in the negotiations.
As reported, a picket of teachers organized by LIZDA is planned for today in front of the government building.
Around 2,000 people could participate in the picket, LIZDA informs.
Balancing the workload of teachers was one of the demands of the LIZDA strike. The model for balancing workloads should have been agreed last May, but the union and the Ministry of Education still have different visions on how to implement it.
Source: BNS
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