„We appreciate the proposal, it is indeed very important to create as many opportunities as possible for teachers’ professional autonomy and representation to strengthen, so that teachers have as many opportunities as possible to express their position, participate in decision-making, and represent their professional interests,“ the ministry stated in a comment provided to BNS this week.
„At the same time, such an initiative should be supported by the teachers’ community itself – therefore, it is necessary to discuss its appropriateness, possible form, and need with the teachers themselves and their organizations,“ it says.
The idea is viewed negatively
The Lithuanian Education Workers’ Trade Union (LŠDPS), led by Andrius Navickas, issued a statement on Friday saying that the Teachers’ Chamber will not solve relevant problems; on the contrary, according to the organization, it could become another burden for teachers and another obstacle in the education system.
„The education system today does not need another institution, more bureaucracy, and another body capable of deciding about a teacher’s professional life. It needs real solutions regarding working conditions, teacher shortages and safety, administrative burden, and respect for the teaching profession,“ LŠDPS states.
The organization expressed this position earlier this week after meeting with representatives of the Presidency and listening to the presentation of the idea to establish the Teachers’ Chamber.
„Having listened to the proposed model, we have a clear conclusion – the Teachers’ Chamber is a flawed solution that will not solve entrenched education problems but may deepen them further,“ the trade union states.
According to it, the Presidency correctly identifies the problems plaguing the education system: teacher shortages, burnout, heavy administrative burden, poor student achievements, and political instability, but it is completely unclear how the creation of a new institution should solve these problems.
„If the problem is excessive regulation and bureaucracy, why propose creating yet another institution with its own rules, professional ethics system, qualification, and career mechanisms?“ the organization asked.
Meanwhile, A. Navickas himself told BNS that he believes the Teachers’ Chamber initiative would mean too much institutional control.
„We believe that representation is organized voluntarily by teachers, and currently, such a proposal – the establishment of a state trade union whose founder would be the Parliament and whose work (of the Teachers’ Chamber – BNS) would be controlled by government institutions – is interference. (…) This is perhaps a desire to control employee representatives, and we think that this is definitely undesirable in a democratic state,“ he said to BNS this week.
In turn, Egidijus Milešinas, chairman of the Lithuanian Education and Science Trade Union (LŠMPS), said the organization views the president’s proposal „very critically,“ but there is no final decision on a common opinion yet.
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„Since (it is – BNS) the largest organization, it must consult its members; we will make the final decision next week,“ he told BNS.
The Teachers’ Chamber deserves discussion
Meanwhile, Jurgita Šukevičienė, chairwoman of the Parliament’s Education and Science Committee (ŠMK), says that in order to strengthen the prestige of the teaching profession, the idea of seeking an effective model of professional self-governance is certainly important, and the initiative to establish the chamber deserves a thorough discussion.
„I think that the need and possible benefits of such an institution (…) can probably best be assessed by the teachers themselves, because the chamber is about teachers and, of course, the trade unions representing them,“ J. Šukevičienė said to BNS this week.
Asked how she views LŠDPS’s criticism of the president’s proposal, the chairwoman emphasized that her committee is open to discussions.
„I have no doubt that we will discuss a lot and that the proposal will be thoroughly examined and will definitely receive due attention. (…) Probably the most important thing for us politicians would be to hear the opinion of practitioners, (…) and we will certainly thoroughly examine the project itself when it is submitted to the committee,“ she said.
„We still have time, the session is just beginning, so the temperature will probably be measured now, the idea was announced and presented, so I think let’s wait for those reactions, and they will still come to us in the Parliament, and after hearings, it will probably be clearer whether the Teachers’ Chamber will easily take root or whether it will raise some questions and cause discussions,“ J. Šukevičienė said.
BNS reported that the president last week insisted that teachers should be given more opportunities to express their position and defend professional interests not only through trade unions.
„One of my ideas is still to give teachers the opportunity to express their position and defend their interests not only through those trade unions, (…) but maybe the Teachers’ Chamber is needed so that it would be a community established on a professional basis that would speak with one voice,“ he said.
According to the head of state, trade unions, in his view, are quite fragmented, there are many of them, but they all perform the same function.
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