Government neglects education sector as opposition calls for salary increases

Education is not a priority for the government. In its program statement, the government (PVV) promised an annual wage increase for education employees, a commitment it has failed to uphold. This was highlighted by the opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS) during a press conference on Wednesday. They also pointed out the shortcomings of the proposed compensatory contribution, intended for some employees in the education sector.

"We call on the government to adhere to its own PVV and proceed with increasing the base salaries in education. While compensation contributions can be a nice addition, they cannot replace a systemic solution," emphasized MP Tina Gažovičová (PS). She noted that the compensatory contribution is unpredictable, as the law allows the Ministry of Education significant discretion. Furthermore, it does not support all education employees, stating, "It will not be granted to teachers in after school clubs, teachers in elementary art schools, or non-pedagogical staff in education." According to her, it also fails to address the shortage of teachers.

In response, the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth (MŠVVaM) stated that it supports better remuneration for education employees but must also respect the need for public finance consolidation, which is essential for sustainable education funding in the long term. "The department's budget for 2025 was developed under challenging conditions, yet the government plans to increase education spending by 20 percent next year. This increase will also include funds for a compensatory allowance, which, together with a one-time bonus, will raise the average salary of teachers by approximately five to 11 percent, depending on the region," added the ministry's communication and marketing department.

Minister of Education Tomáš Drucker (Hlas-SD) regularly negotiates with union representatives and will continue this collaboration. School committee member Ingrid Kosová (PS) criticized the alleged ideological issues in schools, stating that they do not exist. Additionally, committee member Viera Kalmárová (PS) raised concerns about the requirement for parental consent regarding educational content beyond the curriculum, arguing that it imposes unnecessary obligations on schools and undermines a safe environment for students.

Source: TASR