Cabinet approves 6-percent hike in teachers' salaries

University lecturers as well as school teachers will see a 6-percent hike in their salaries as of September 1. The Cabinet approved this amendment in a fast-tracked procedure on Wednesday and it is now off to the Parliament for approval. The amendment introduces a special salary scale for university lecturers, which would be a change from the current system, where lecturers don't receive remuneration according to specified regulations. The hike in teachers' salaries is expected to cost €32.5 million this year, of which the largest amount will be paid by the state. This salary hike will help make teaching as a profession more attractive, said Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Peter Plavčan."Teachers deserve more for their work," he said. However, he added that Slovakia has to approach this issue with specificity rather than across the board. Plavčan also announced that teachers' salaries could go up again next year. Teachers, along with their trade unions, disagree with the 6-percent hike and are asking for a €140-increase in salaries by the end of this year across the board. According to the Slovak Teachers Chamber vice-president Vladimir Crmoman, this is what would increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession.