Before the start of the new school year, a protest rally for higher salaries in education was announced in front of the Ministry of Education and Science, organized by the opposition SDSM. The Independent Education and Science Union distanced itself from the protest, saying that its members do not participate in political protests. The Minister of Education and Science issued a statement saying that the party organizing the protest had had the opportunity to improve the status of teachers in the past.
SDSM announced yesterday at a press conference that they will organize a protest under the slogan “You have no excuses, raise salaries” and called on educators, regardless of their political persuasion, to join the protest.
– Under the slogan “You have no excuses, raise salaries!” we will ask for a 12 percent increase in salaries in the education sector and to meet the demands of teachers. This assembly before the start of the school year is an alarm, a warning. “It is an assembly where the revolt against the wrong education policy of the government of DPMNE and Vesna Janevska will be expressed,” said Daniela Nikolova of SDSM yesterday.
The Independent Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture (SONK) called on its members not to take part in protests, except for activities organized by SONK. SONK President Jakim Nedelkov said that any interference by political parties in education could be counterproductive.
– The Independent Trade Union for Education, Science and Culture of the Republic of Macedonia – SONK, as the largest trade union for education and science with over 20,000 education workers as members, distances itself from any political influence and actions in the field of education. At a time of intense negotiations for a solution and means to raise the social status of workers in education, the actions of political parties and the assumption of the role of trade unions mean buying insignificant political points and can have the exact opposite effect, Nedelkov wrote on Facebook.
The Union announces that it will continue to work with all available union resources until its goal is achieved.
Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska expressed her own position. The minister stressed that she remains committed to improving the status of teachers and that she will do so as soon as the opportunity to increase salaries arises after the budget is stabilized.
– As a government and as a minister who comes from the ranks of teachers, we will fight for continuity in improving the status of teachers and will not give up on putting them in the right place in society, not only in terms of salaries. We will be in constant contact with the social partners – with the trade unions, which are independent and not promoted by political parties. “We will discuss and look for ways to improve the status of the teacher,” says Janevska.
He pointed out that the budget rebalancing allocated 900 million denars for teachers’ salaries and that efforts will be made in November or December to ensure that teachers receive holiday pay.
At the start of the new school year, which begins tomorrow, protests by the Independent Education Union have been announced, which will take place after classes have finished.
