“Revolution began when we saw our payslips”

The September increase in salaries for teachers has disappointed many.

Teachers of nursery schools were surprised to learn that their wages remained the same.

One – add, two – subtract

Aliaksandr Lukashenka admitted repeatedly that teachers had “unfairly low wages”. The head of state returned to the issue in March and noted that “teachers shouldn't feel offended”. He ordered the government to find money to significantly raise salaries for teachers of kindergartens and secondary schools, Volha Shyrakastup writes on inter-press.by (Baranavichy).

Bonuses for qualification grades were slightly increased in kindergartens in April. The average wages were 3,850,000 rubles in March and became 3,899,000 rubles in April, according to the National Statistics Committee.

It became known in August that the salaries would be raised, but not for nursery school teachers. BelTA news agency reported that teachers with qualification grades would receive bonuses of from 30 to 50% of the salary, while teachers without grades would have a 10-20% increase.

All school employees, from technical to managerial staff, expected higher salaries. But many saw in September that their wages remained the same.

“No increases! We hoped so much. We were discussing the topic and waited for higher salaries in September. I didn't expect that wages would be raised significantly for kindergarten teacher assistants, but I hoped for at least for something,” a kindergarten teacher assistant told IP.

According to her, her salary wasn't changed at all.

“I received my previous 2.2 million. It is with bonuses for work experience. Young assistants get only 1.7 million rubles.”

Salaries for qualified kindergarten teachers were raised slightly, though they hoped for more. A kindergarten teacher with the highest qualification grade says the increase was 300,000 rubles.

“They promised a 90% increase, but it was only 30%. My colleagues with the first grade received only 200,000 rubles more. Is this big money today? It's only enough to go to a shop one time,” the woman complains. “They were saying salaries would rose significantly, but it appears the state doesn't need educated people.”

“Revolution began in the kindregarten when we saw our payslips”

The director of a kindergarten told IP that employees felt deceived when they saw their September wages.

“It was a revolution! They all shouted! It turned out that some didn't receive any increases at all. Why did they promised we would get bonuses? They should have said that salaries wouldn't be raised for many. I don't like to discuss it. I need to look for a new job instead of just talking,” the woman says in an upset tone.

Teachers of secondary schools are not happy about the increase, too. A teacher with the highest qualification grade with 20 years of experience and a 32-hour working week received a slightly more than 7 million. According to her, the increase looks attractive only to some teachers with the highest qualification decree and a long record of service. Other teachers will quit schools.

“It is the first time for many years when I have received a high salary. It is because I prepared children for interschool competitions. My salary rose by 400,000 rubles. But I always expect something bad – either I will have more work, or other bonuses will be cut later,” the teacher says. “I shouldn't complain, but I don't see my family due to my work. The rest qualified teachers get miserable bonuses. It becomes more apparent in the last years that clever young people leave the educational sector.”