Teachers seek higher salaries and decent living and working conditions. They also ask to be respected and protected through a law on anti-violence against teaching staff. The demands were formulated in an awareness-raising event held at the Theoretical Lyceum “Gheorghe Asachi” in Chisinau, together with the Education and Science Trade Union Federation of the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.
“Gheorghe Asachi” Lyceum principal Natalia Bulat said the event was staged to raise public awareness of teachers’ demands. “Today, the teachers experience an education crisis and reached an impasse. Dear community, we care about what we do, we care about the role and image of teachers in society,” stated the principal.
Gennady Donos, president of the Education and Science Trade Union Federation, said that such events are held in most of the educational institutions of the country in a move to draw attention to the problems experienced in education. Regrettably, a system crisis is witnessed due to the shortage of staff. Therefore, the trade unions have discussions with the Ministry of Education so as to identify solutions to the existing problems. “We are conducting this awareness-raising campaign in a bid to highlight two major problems out of the many existing problems. Firstly, the salary is not motivating. Secondly, a law that will protect the teachers should be urgently adopted,” stated Gennady Donos.
Margareta Sîrbu, head of the Municipal Council of the Education and Science Trade Union, noted that the teachers want to be heard by the whole country. The school is the place where any profession starts, but when it goes to the pays in the educational system, excuses are always found, the educational sector being treated as a Cinderella in society. ‘When it goes to the country’s future, we speak not only about modern schools and kindergartens outfitted with teaching aids, but also about the people working here. There is no place for negotiations when it goes to people as competent, upright professionals receptive to children’s needs must come and work in the system,” said Margareta Sîrbu.
Head of the Trade Union Committee of “Gheorghe Asachi” Lyceum Ludmila Vărzaru said that the teachers have been blamed more in the recent past. But the teachers must not beg salaries and respect. They need optimal conditions to work, material and psychological comfort. The teachers who are taking part in the event put on black clothes. “We call on the country’s administration, the Government of the Republic of Moldova, to adopt an attitude. Don’t neglect the teaching staff! We seek legislative protection. We today chose to wear black as out sadness derives from your neglect of us,” stated Ludmila Vărzaru.
