'Recently, the tendency of social tensions in our country is growing. One of the main reasons for this is the Government´s policy based on reducing spending, what does not stimulate economic development and lowers the standard of living of citizens. Although the economic growth, which reached the pre-crisis level, of our state has been noted for several years in a row, the incomes of our citizens have not reached the pre-crisis levels in many cases. Just like financing many important budget industries. An example of this is the education system, the problems of which are not resolved. Moreover, there is also the lack of attention noticed when speaking about social affairs of the employees of the education system,' the Press Office of EAPL state.
Education system employees are demanding:
1. Restoration of the pre-crisis (valid until 2009) pupil basket (3774 LTL, now - 3348 LTL);
2. Unification of salaries of preschool teachers and teachers of general education;
3. Restoration of the pre-crisis (valid until 2009) base amount (128 LTL, now - 122 LTL);
4. Reduction of preschool groups of children of 1-5 years old to 10, and 3-7 years old to 15; reduction of the maximum number of pupils in initial grades to 20-22, in 5-8 grades to 24-26, in 9-12 grades to 22-24 students.
5. Create the conditions for teachers to retire at the age of 55 years before 1st September 2015.
EAPL appeals to the Government to start the discussion with educators and resolve the problems they face as soon as possible.
'EAPL supports the demands of teacher unions, as well as of all the employees of the education system - preschools, schools. We regret that the Government does not solve these very important issues, does not properly lead the dialogue with the employees of the educational system, as well as other industries properly. Although taking such a drastic form of defence of their rights as strikes falls within the competence of trade unions, we understand and support them. We demand from the Government to start urgent conversations and resolve the problems in the educational system,' the EAPL Press Office statement says.
