Because Latvian Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša has rejected the request to step down from the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA), the trade union has decided to turn to Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš with a request to adopt urgent solutions to implement the teachers’ strike agreement.
The chairperson of the teachers’ trade union Inga Vanaga said on Monday, the 3rd of July, that the minister’s decision to not step down “was expected”, and that it is an “issue of attitude”, because in the two months since the end of the teachers’ strike Čakša has not ensured correct calculations and amendments to legislative acts in regards to the way teachers are to be financed.
This is irresponsible treatment of teachers, said Vanaga,
stressing that municipalities have to know now if there is enough financing available so that they know what wages to offer teachers.
The representative of the trade union stressed that their objective is making sure the teachers’ strike agreement is implemented in full.
LIZDA hopes it will be possible to reach an agreement with the government this week.
Otherwise the trade union will call a council meeting to discuss future action.
On the 30th of June LIZDA requested Čakša’s dismissal.
Čakša refused to step down.
The minister dismissed the trade union’s accusations, stressing again that both requirements from the teachers’ strike – workload balancing and wage increase schedule – have been met, which is why she has no reason to accept LIZDA’s invitation to step down.
According to the minister, it is necessary to continue implementing both the unified and inclusive school concept in Latvia and accessibility of higher education in the country.
Nevertheless, certain education sector representatives invited LIZDA to not maintain the request for Čakša’s dismissal.
Latvian Private Preschool Association manager Daina Kājiņa said one of the challenges the country’s education system has experienced for a long time is the lack of stability, which is caused by frequent change of ministers.
President of Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) Ivars Kalviņš believes LIZDA’s dismissal request for the Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša reflects the lasting critical situation in the sector, and does not help to resolve it.
He is confident the real reason for all this is “the lack of capacity of competence in the ministry’s apparatus, which has led to the failure to prepare necessary legislative acts in a timely manner”.
Also read: Trade union requests Latvian education minister’s immediate dismissal