On Thursday, the government approved the Ministry of Education and Research's comprehensive action plan for the transition to teaching in Estonian. For example, the state will motivate teachers who relocate to Ida-Viru County with higher salaries and provide them with inexpensive housing.
The Estonian Union of Private Schools (Eesti Eraüldhariduskoolide Ühenduse) wants to meet Education and Research Minister Tõnis Lukas to discuss the sudden rise in running costs and the cap on tuition fees. The cap, which is fixed in the Private Schools Act, prevents privately owned schools from raising tuition fees in the middle of the school year.
Negotiations regarding the possible nationalization of three schools in Lüganuse Municipality have not been running smoothly, with the Ministry of Education and Science taking almost two months to provide the municipality with a formal proposal.
Teachers' average salary in Estonia will rise to €2,048 gross per month from next year, while the minimum monthly wage will be €1,798, Education Minister Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa) said Thursday. The development follows protests and threats of strikes over salaries and personnel shortages in the teaching sector.
Next year's budget will total 15 billion euros and have a deficit of approximately 3 percent. Money has been allocated for defense, energy subsidies and salaries, but little for other areas, such as investments in transport.