Municipalities unsure when funds promised for teacher pay rises will arrive
The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities has been waiting for over a month to receive an answer from the Ministry of Education and Research regarding when the money earmarked to increase teachers' minimum pay will reach the municipalities.
According to the ministry, in order to allocate the funds to municipalities, an amendment to the State Budget Act is first required. The amendment in question is currently being processed by the Riigikogu.
The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities wrote to the ministry regarding the issue of the minimum wage for general education teachers on February 5, 2024. The ministry has not yet responded.
"What is displeasing is the situation in which we hear the ministry saying through the media how important it is to cooperate with local governments, but when the cities and municipalities themselves turn to the state, we do not get answers to our questions," said Jan Trei, deputy director of the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities.
The municipalities expect the money earmarked to cover the rise in teachers' salaries to be paid without delay.
"Municipalities expect that the teachers' salary increase will be paid without delay. Teacher pay rises were promised by the state, and the state must deliver on its promises. The month of April will soon be upon us, and teachers are expecting to receive the pay rise that they have been promised," said Trei.
By law, the Ministry of Education and Research is obliged to reply within 30 days.
According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Research, teachers will receive the salaries they have been promised.
"The government has agreed that the minimum salary for teachers this year will be €1,820 (per month), and all teachers will definitely receive this salary," said Mari Annus, head of communications at the Ministry of Education.
"The government has submitted the amendments to the state budget to the Riigikogu. However, in order to allocate additional funds to local governments, it is necessary to amend the State Budget Act, and this is currently being processed by the Riigikogu. Hopefully, the Riigikogu will process the amendments as quickly as possible," Annus said.
Annus added that the ministry will send its reply to the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities' letter in the near future.
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Editor: Michael Cole
