The Teachers' Plenum requested an increase in salaries in primary and secondary education through a letter to the authorities, threatening to boycott classes in September. The letter is addressed to the Minister of Education and Science Mila Carovska, to Trade Union for Education, Science and Culture (SONK) and to the Independent Trade Union for Education and Science (NSON).

- This request is a result of the growth of product prices, as well as the growth of the average salary, which is much higher than the average salary of employees in education - said the Plenum, where they expect the unions to support their request.

Last week, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) appealed for an immediate solution to the status of about 4.700 teachers and professional associates in education, who currently do not have permanent employment contracts. Their main requirement is that fixed-term employment contracts be for a maximum of one year.

Carovska, on the other hand, called on the opposition MPs to explain to the Plenum why they are blocking in the Parliament the amendments to the Law on Teachers and Professional Associates in primary and secondary schools, which provide continuous salary growth for the teaching staff. in accordance with the increase of the minimum wage in the country.

"Teachers' salaries in the last four years have increased by more than 2.000 denars, while the previous government in a period of seven years increased them by only 850 denars," reads the reaction of the Ministry of Education and Science.

In her reaction, Carovska pointed out that the changes in the law that the opposition is blocking require all new employments in schools to be directly for an indefinite period of time, instead of waiting for two years to start the transformation process. With the entry into force of the legal changes, she added, all teachers and professional associates who are currently engaged for a certain period of time, will receive a decision for permanent employment if they meet the legal requirements.

- For the first time, the components of the salary of teachers and professional associates are legally defined, which enables payment of salary supplements for previously acquired pedagogical titles as a result of work success, the supplement for departmental or class management, for work in a combined class and for work in hilly and mountainous areas, for which in the past there were reactions that they are not paid by the schools - explained Carovska.

MES: Increased student scholarships

The Ministry of Education and Science also announced the competitions for awarding pupils and student scholarships for the academic year 2021-2022 and announced that this year the amounts have increased and are introduced new categories of scholarships.

A novelty is that from September in primary and secondary education only electronic diaries will be in use, which will relieve teachers of the obligation to keep double records in the educational process.