OECD published its study Education at Glance also this year. It gives an exhausting comparison of its Member States’ education. Slovakia finished at the end of this chart in several statistics again. Total expenditure on education, unemployment of the least educated and the possibility of wage reinforcement during teacher’s career are just some of them.

One of the sadder looks arises when comparing the salaries of our teachers with teachers of other OECD countries. Salaries of our teachers are low. Almost every Slovak agrees with this opinion. OECD offers a slightly different perspective. Teachers’ salaries are compared with the average salary of jobs where you need a university degree. The OECD average is 88%. In Slovakia it’s less than half – 43%. No other country gives their teachers less than half of the average salary of jobs with tertiary level of education needed.

Is it correct to compare teachers with other university graduates? A frequent argument against this comparison is that faculties of education are only attended by students who didn’t get elsewhere. But salaries are set by the government. Weak students are therefore not the cause but the consequence of low salaries. Being a teacher is one of the most favourite children’s dream jobs. Many of them keep this idea into adulthood but their smile freezes at the idea of paycheck.

Ministry of Education is also aware of low salaries problem. Report on the state of education speaks about salaries increase to 1.2 times of the average salary by 2016 and to 75% of the average salary of jobs with university degree required. The problem with these reports is that only a fraction of them turns into reality. This report ended up similarly with the resignation of former Minister of Education.

Statements made by new Minister Pellegrini are often contradictory. He said that the salaries of teachers were one of his priorities but on the other hand he said he was not bound by the promises of his predecessor. Pellegrini said he would increase salaries if he manages to arrange additional resources in the Ministry of Finance but that is limited due to debt brake law. But he also promises to look for resources at his own ministry, too. Ministry declares commitment to structural changes and significant streamlining of the system. But similar statements have been made for 25 years and no minister ended up fulfilling these promises. We will certainly keep our fingers crossed for him and hope he will handle it at least as well as marketing. Each teacher receiving 100 Euro for Christmas is rather populism than structural reform.

And finally, one advice for the Minister. If there are no resources for teachers‘ salaries even after streamlining the Ministry of Education, he should turn to his colleagues at the Ministry of Interior. On the contrary, Slovakia issues from its budget on public order and security most from all OECD countries. Minister Kaliňák could therefore save much easier.

Author: Jakub Sokol

Translated by: Filip Piterka