Montenegro Government’s New Blow to Teachers’ Salaries: Fiscal Experiment or War on Education?
Is education in Montenegro on the brink of collapse? Zoja Bojanić Lalović, a member of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), says yes. The government’s new salary calculation method will slash the pay of thousands of teachers by at least 50 euros. Is this just another fiscal experiment or an outright war on educators?
What’s happening with teachers’ salaries?
According to Bojanić Lalović, the new salary system violates Article 22 of the sectoral collective agreement. This article guarantees increased coefficients for titles like masters, PhDs, class supervisors, as well as coordinators and professional staff in schools and kindergartens. The government has decided to ignore these provisions, meaning thousands of teachers will lose their rightful bonuses.
Why is this a problem?
It’s not just about money. Bojanić Lalović points out that these moves reveal the government’s true attitude towards education and those who carry it – the teachers. While education is touted as the pillar of society, in practice, teachers are treated as a cost, not as drivers of social development.
Worse still, some decision-makers have dubious or bought diplomas, further degrading the dignity of educators and intellectuals in Montenegro.
The teachers’ union speaks out
The teachers’ union has strongly reacted to the announced pay cuts. They claim the new salary calculation method is not only unfair but illegal, as it breaches the existing collective agreement. This is another blow to already below-average salaries in the education sector.
Fiscal experiment or political manipulation?
Bojanić Lalović believes education has become a playground for the government’s fiscal experiments. Instead of investing in education and respecting workers, the government centralizes and controls the budget at the expense of education. All this while publicly talking about investments in education, which she calls manipulative and populist rhetoric.
What’s next?
This attitude towards education and teachers could have catastrophic consequences for Montenegro’s social development. If these policies continue, expect mass dissatisfaction, protests, and an even greater brain drain from the education system.
Conclusion
The Montenegro government is about to test teachers’ endurance once again. Cutting salaries by at least 50 euros per teacher is not just a number – it’s a sign that education is not a priority but a cost to be cut. While the public talks about the importance of education, teachers are treated like disposable resources.
If you’re fed up with these government experiments, maybe it’s time to loudly ask – who really benefits? And if you have a good joke about teachers’ salaries, feel free to share it in the comments. Laughter might just be the best medicine!
Source: RTCG
