Latvian Association of Large Cities calls on government to deal with problems in education sector

  • 2022-06-28
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - The Latvian Association of Large Cities (LLPA) and ten heads of education boards of state cities have turned to the Saeima education, culture and science committee and the Education and Science Ministry, calling to deal with the huge problems in the education sector, said LLPA communication consultant Ugis Darvins-Kozlovskis.

The association believes that the government in the nearest time should develop a schedule for increase of teachers' wages for the period of the next five years. The Cabinet of Ministers also should approve the schedule for increasing teachers' wages, earmarking funding from the state budget next year and in the medium-term budget.

At the same time, it is important to ensure balance work load for teachers and prevent shortage of teachers on all education levels in order to promote achieving education quality development goals stated in the guidelines.

Larger transparency should be introduced in calculating teachers' wages, which can be achieved by using unified methodology. Therefore, LPPA calls on the ministry to approve use of unified methodology, publish it, thus, ensuring that education sector employees and the rest of the public are aware of the principles for calculating wages.

As reported, the government on June 21 adopted the new distribution model and calculation system for teachers' wages that will ensure additional funding to local governments who have their school network arranged.

The new model "pupil in municipal territory" will mean decentralization of decision making and changes in the principles of calculating target subsidies.

In line with the new model, target subsidies will be calculated for municipalities, and not for each education establishment separately. Local governments will have a larger role in arranging their school network and ensuring competitiveness of teachers' wages.