There has been a recent proposal put forth by Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev to utilize the remaining funds from the education ministry’s budget to cover the €10 million required for a teacher wage increase this year. This suggestion was made following Minister of Education Kristina Kallas’ appearance on the ETV morning show “Terevisioon,” where she discussed the rejection of the proposal at a cabinet meeting.
Minister Võrklaev elucidated that there are approximately €14 million in residual funds from the education ministry’s 2023 budget that could be repurposed for the teacher wage increase. Furthermore, there is an additional €14 million earmarked for 2024 that could potentially be reallocated this year to support teachers’ wage rises. This proposal was made in response to the nationwide teacher strikes over pay that commenced on Monday.
Võrklaev also brought attention to the issue of increasing unused funds within ministry budgets. He expressed concerns about over-planning and inefficiencies, particularly within the education ministry, where approximately €78 million in unused funds was identified between 2022-2023. Additionally, there are worries regarding an extra €11 million of unused EU funding intended for education and research and development (R&D).
The finance minister stressed that addressing the teacher wage issue necessitates a comprehensive reform of the education system, especially in areas where teacher salaries already surpass the national average. This aligns with teachers’ demands for higher wages, with the objective of attaining 120 percent of the average wage by 2027.
The proposal has elicited a variety of responses, with opposition from universities and student union bodies. Despite the challenges, Minister Võrklaev remains devoted to discovering a practical solution to support teachers’ wage increases.
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Editor: Andrew Whyte, Mari Peegel
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