Unions demand higher teacher salaries, threaten protests.
The Cabinet is planning an increase in teacher salaries from January 1, 2025. Syndicate "Education" however, it is ready for protest action if the proposed increase does not meet their demands.
Minister of Education Galin Tsokov confirmed the upcoming increase in teachers' salaries: "The increase in teachers' salaries is 125% of the average salary, and we want 130%, which is from 15% to 20%".
The Chairman of the Trade Union "Education" Yulian Petrov expressed to Bulgaria ON AIR his concern regarding the lack of communication with the Ministry of Finance: "We currently do not have any feedback from the Ministry of Finance". He warned of possible protest action, including potentially not completing the school year.
Boris Rusev, a history teacher with 25 years of experience, remembers the times when in 1999 his salary was less than 200 BGN. "We peeled off the bottom. 5-6-7 years ago, things were pretty bad," he says.
According to Rusev, adequate pay is key to attracting new personnel to the education system: "It will certainly be fair, in fact, in order to educate children meaningfully and to have quality people in Bulgarian education, salaries must be increased. We can't fight only on muscle and think that we can attract young people with zest and innovative solutions.