DUSHANBE, October 31, 2008, Asia-Plus — The last 40% rise in teachers’ salaries has been carried out with violation of their constitutional rights, deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Karimjon Qodirov remarked at an enlarged meeting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Economy, Budget, Finance and Taxes on October 30.
Heads of the ministries of finance, education, and health, as well as senior representatives of other relevant ministries and organizations also attended the meeting.
According to MP, teachers’ salaries have been raised not due to increase in financing of the education sector but due to increasing teaching load and reducing other payments. “They have increased teaching load but reduced payments for class teaching and homework marking,” Qodirov said, noting that because of that unreasonable step some teachers have left their jobs.
In the meantime, Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov said that that opinion was erroneous.
“Salaries of teachers have been raised by 25 percent due to new pouring into the sector and by another 14 percent due to increase in teaching load,” the minister said, adding that salaries of school principals will be raised by 10 percent and salaries of their deputies in charge of curriculum will be raised by 15 percent in the near future.
