Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
–
“You are urging to raise the quality requirement for teachers who are already working to the best of their ability and as a minister you have not provided teaching aids in line with the new curriculum in two years, teleworking affects the quality of education and you say work even harder and if you don’t “According to the criteria set by me, the salary from September in the target grant is minus 20%. And this is an emergency situation,” Vanaga described the union ‘s central reproach to Šuplinskai. She warned that 121 or almost one in five schools in Latvia do not meet the criteria planned by the ministry.
Šuplinska opposed that the quality requirements would be divided into four regional levels, and she studied in her documents that there are currently only 22 schools that do not meet them, and they are mostly located in large cities. She pointed out that there were no grounds to suspend the reforms at this time.
In general, Vanaga mentioned five main reasons for demanding resignation: firstly, the above-mentioned changes in quality requirements, which threaten to reduce teachers’ salaries, secondly, the ministry’s reluctance to improve dialogue with the industry, and thirdly, lobbying for private schools. fourthly, the lack of funding for higher education; and fifthly, the reluctance to extend the competences approach to education required by the Covid-19 crisis.
Šuplinska rejected all criticisms. Regarding the communication, she stated that the trade union is only making demands, not looking for solutions, therefore the ministry has started to contact the industry directly. Criticism of the quality requirements and the related reduction in wages was rejected by Šuplinska, referring to the arguments already described. The increase in funding for private schools is intended only for those cases when the municipality itself cannot provide this level of education. Regarding the financing of higher education, Šuplinska admitted that it has been too small for years, but is being gradually increased. In turn, the implementation of the new curriculum will be monitored and, if necessary, a decision will be made, however, it is more a question of changing the mindset of teachers than the availability of textbooks.
Vanaga is now awaiting a meeting with the prime minister, scheduled for Thursday. If no compromise is reached, the trade union will not be defeated and will decide what to do next. Shuplinska, for her part, pointed out that the possibility of reaching a compromise depends on the demands of the other party.
See the full discussion entry here.
–
