Starting with 2022/2023 school year the lowest monthly rate of teachers in Latvia will increase by 8.4% – from EUR 830 to EUR 900, as provided by amendments passed by the government to multiple Cab. Min. requirements on Thursday, 5 July.
The aforementioned amendments secure in legislative acts the increase of teachers’ wages from 1 September 2022 onward.
Amendments state that the lowest monthly wages are to be increased for principals of vocational secondary education facilities, as well as college directors and their vices, heads of general education and hobby education facilities, vocational education programme heads in colleges and other education personnel.
Amendments also provide for increasing the lowest rate for pre-school teachers by 11.2% – from EUR 872 in 2021/2022 school year to EUR 970 from 1 September 2022 onward.
Additionally, it is set that the size of grants per child in pre-school education programmes will be EUR 82.
Estimates were based on the previously approved lowest rat for pre-school teachers – EUR 970.
The Ministry of Education and Science explained that changes will help increase each teacher’s pay without changing workload.
The ministry stressed that the increase of the lowest rate will not provide a tangible pay increase for all teachers, because most teachers have a small workload. To ensure a major increase of pay, it is necessary to secure a number of conditions for the optimisation of the school network in order to find an optimal student/teacher ratio.
Private education institutions will have a transition period until 2025/2026 school year.
In addition, it is planned to ensure a solidarity principle. This means that the private education institutions for which financing will reduce as a result of the estimate will receive compensation up to the amount listed in the budget law.
Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees previously announced plans to invite teachers to go on an indefinite strike in September.
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