Skopje, 24 August 2024 (MIA) - Due to the poor state of the budget and lack of funds for projects and liabilities in the education sector, teachers will not get a 12-percent wage raise in September, as demanded by the unions, but an increase will come next March, said Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska on Saturday.

"I will continue to fight for the teachers and insist on fulfilling our promises. We promised a raise in the first year, i.e. until next June, and they will get it in March, as much as the budget allows for. If possible, they will get another raise later in the year, so they are satisfied and motivated," Minister Janevska told reporters.

The Minister said she was aware of the problems and challenges that teachers are faced with.

"If I could, I would increase their wages not by 12 but up to 50 percent, but I am only stating what our real possibilities are, considering what we inherited from the previous authorities. If the budget was planned properly, we would not have a problem on our hands. We are faced with enormous expenses for textbooks, unpaid student standard, transportation issues, renovation costs. Teachers' salaries are a necessity as well but I am certain they will understand," noted Janevska.

Photo: MIA