Prime Minister Andrus Ansip replied to the interpellation concerning teachers’ salaries (No 41), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mailis Reps, Aadu Must, Eldar Efendijev, Viktor Vassiljev, Ester Tuiksoo, Yana Toom, Kadri Simson, Enn Eesmaa, Priit Toobal, Aivar Riisalu, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Valeri Korb, Vladimir Velman, Lauri Laasi, Peeter Võsa, Inara Luigas, Tarmo Tamm, Rainer Vakra and Olga Sõtnik on 19 September.
 
Ansip admitted that, in light of the state budget possibilities, no growth of public sector operating costs is planned in the state budget for 2012. In his words, in connection with that, the minimum remuneration rates of teachers established by a Government Regulation will also remain unchanged. “This does not mean that teachers’ salary may not increase, both as a statistical average and for every teacher taken separately. This salary rise can be achieved by optimising the school network,” explained the Prime Minister.
 
Ansip found that if the number of teachers had been kept corresponding to the number of pupils then teachers’ salaries were 50% higher now. He underlined that the school reform, organisation of the school network is urgently needed and it should be started with upper secondary schools. “If the upper secondary school network is organised and there will be 54‒100 upper secondary schools in Estonia, instead of the current 220, then teachers’ salary might rise by 30% as a result of this organisation,” Ansip brought an example. He added that the Ministry of Education and Research has started to draft proposals for organising the school network, one aim being also to ensure that a worthy salary is paid to teachers, besides increasing the quality of education. However, the school network can be organised only in constructive cooperation of the Ministry, local governments and other parties. “I hope that teachers also sense the need for organisation of the school network,” noted Ansip.
 
The Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus replied to the interpellation concerning the State Forest Management Centre’s suspicious cooperation with the financial corporation Cofi (No 42), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Tarmo Tamm, Peeter Võsa, Lauri Laasi, Vladimir Velman, Valeri Korb, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Aadu Must, Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Ester Tuiksoo and Mailis Reps on 20 September.
 
The Chancellor of Justice Indrek Teder replied to the interpellation concerning the ensuring of human rights (No 39), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Deniss Boroditš, Vladimir Velman, Lauri Laasi, Peeter Võsa, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Kalle Laanet, Jüri Ratas, Olga Sõtnik, Kalev Kallo, Aadu Must, Priit Toobal, Viktor Vassiljev, Mailis Reps, Aivar Riisalu and Marika Tuus-Laul on 14 September.
 
The Riigikogu Press Service
 
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