January 23, Minsk /BELTA/. A significant increase in teachers' salaries is quite feasible in 2013. This was stated today by the Minister of Education, Sergey Maskevich, during an online conference on the BELTA website.
"I think this can really happen in 2013. We are currently analyzing the resources of the education system, and I believe that opportunities can be found to increase salaries both within the education system itself and through such a standard as class size," said Sergey Maskevich. He is confident that even by changing approaches to such a standard as "class size," it is possible to find opportunities to increase salaries. "For example, it is unclear why, even in urban areas, there are still schools with class sizes of 10 students in senior grades, with a norm of 25," the minister noted. By reducing the number of such classes, it is possible to increase the salaries of all teaching staff.
The minister also said that there are institutions in Belarus that may be closed. This concerns evening schools, which have outlived their purpose, and educational and production complexes. "The functions of these institutions can be performed, for example, by regular schools, on the basis of which evening classes can be opened," he noted. At the same time, Sergey Maskevich believes that all saved resources can be directed towards increasing the salaries of teaching staff.
The minister noted that the main burden in carrying out measures aimed at increasing teachers' salaries falls on the regions. "The regions themselves come up with proposals and initiatives aimed at increasing teachers' salaries," he added.
Regarding the issue of increasing the salaries of educators in preschool institutions, the minister noted that this decision has already been made by the Ministry of Education, and a specific proposal is under consideration by the Council of Ministers.-0-