School principals indicated that schools have been lacking teachers for several years and the situation is disastrous. In addition, there is an annual increase in requirements for educators and the coming of new functions – cooperation in teacher groups, planning the content, mutual learning lessons, analysis of lessons, building methodological materials in line with the requirements of the new content, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other issues.
Reforms and changes of rules at different levels are still ongoing, both in terms of educational content and in the process and in school management and administration, without taking into account the crisis situation in education.
As indicated in the letter, in order to ensure the learning process, the school management is tackling the lack of teachers by increasing the loads of existing teachers who are already working overtime, leading to burnout and the quitting of teachers who would continue to work under normal working conditions.
The principals of Riga schools therefore call on the responsible authorities to address the problem immediately by free studies in education, reduction of the real estate tax for teachers, a 100% discount on public transport, discounts for teachers for utilities, as well as to motivate pupils to study education at the tertiary level.
The letter was signed by 'at least 89 principals', LETA reported.
