Teacher pay rises in the crisis: are they happening, where and with how much?

The state budget for 2022 foresees a 12.3 % salary increase for all teaching staff from 1 April. The salaries of non-teaching professionals are also set to increase. Many schools are currently facing serious difficulties related to the unprecedented rise in electricity prices and a number of other issues. Have smaller schools and kindergartens been able to increase the salaries of their staff?

According to the Ministry of Education and Science, nearly 72% of teaching staff have already had a pay rise since April, and the rest will negotiate it later, but from 1 April 2022.

87% of schools, kindergartens and education centres that have raised salaries have achieved an average increase of 12.3% and have even exceeded the figures agreed in the Collective Labour Agreement between the social partners and the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). Salaries in 170 institutions increased by more than 13%.

This is according to data from 3995 schools and other educational institutions, which were presented today to the members of the Industry Council for Tripartite Cooperation in Secondary Education. The increase was less than 10 % in 71 places.

A total of 305 institutions have not decided by how much salaries will be raised because they have not yet approved a budget by a decision of the respective municipality or are awaiting the amendment to Ordinance 4 of 2017 on labour standards and remuneration to reflect the new minimum rates of basic monthly salaries of teaching professionals. The draft amendment has been published for public consultation on the MES website. Comments and suggestions were accepted until 28 April this year. The document is to be promulgated in the State Gazette.

Twenty educational institutions are currently not planning salary increases due to lack of sufficient funds. The MES will check whether the agreed minimum individual salaries have been reached in each of them, analyse the problems where they exist and seek a solution together with the school managements and municipalities.

In parallel, the MES will monitor the financial situation of all schools, kindergartens and centres under the new conditions – increased budget from 1 April 2022 and reduced spending after the end of the winter season. If additional funds are needed, the issue will be discussed in the framework of the mid-year budget update.

All salary increases will be calculated retrospectively from 1 April 2022 regardless of when they occur.

The Amalipe Centre calls on the Ministry of Education and the municipalities to provide the necessary financial assistance to all schools and kindergartens that are currently unable to secure a 12.3% salary increase for their teachers! We are talking primarily about schools and kindergartens in small settlements, which are vulnerable in many respects. Teachers, education mediators and other professionals in these schools are working extremely hard to ensure full coverage and better quality of education for children and pupils. This work must be rewarded.

In view of the fact that electricity and gas prices continue to increase, we appeal to the Ministry of Education to plan for further increases in the uniform cost standards!