Leonid Bujor: “It's not true that teachers' salaries were not increased!”

Minister of Education Leonid Bujor denies the assertions that teachers' salaries were not raised on September 1, 2009 made by education trade unions and Opposition politicians. “The salaries were increased. The novice teachers benefited from the highest pay raise,” Bujor said in a news conference on Friday, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Leonid Bujor said the Filat Government kept its promise to increase teachers' pays by 24% on average. According to him, before September 1, 2009 a young teacher received a salary of 1,289 lei, while after September 1 – 1,926 lei. “The increase is 47%”,” the minister said. Referring to the salaries of the teachers with degree and seniority, Bujor said they were increased by 14-16% on average. The minister stressed that 95 million lei was earmarked in the state budget for raising teachers' salaries on September 1, 2009, January 1 and September 1, 2010. Leonid Bujor also spoke about the Opposition's assertion that 130 education institutions were closed. “I assure you that this is not a reason for concern as the 130 schools were not closed, but will only have their status changed, depending on the number of students,” he explained. Bujor said the Ministry of Education intends to provide 80 buses for the students who do not have a school in their settlements and go to school in the neighboring villages and towns.