Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1176246
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 OCTOBER 2019 NEWS Rent Reform & Budget Measures Seminar Date: Friday 18th October 2019 Venue: Hilltop Gardens, Naxxar Time: 9am - 12.30pm Fee: €60 For reservations kindly email i n f o @ n e x i a b t . c o m o r c a l l 2 1 6 3 7 7 7 8 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 When allowances are added on to the basic starting salary, Maltese teachers earn as much as their Italian counter- parts. The study by Eurydice, a network of 42 educational systems participating in the Erasmus+ programme, took into ac- count the salaries of full-time teachers in public schools and covers the period 2017/2018. The Erasmus+ programme includes non-EU countries as well. The exercise published this month was based on starting salaries, bereft of allowances and other payments. It shows that Malta falls within the mid- range. Teachers in Malta earn more than those in Slovenia, Greece, Croatia and other eastern European countries but there is a chasm when compared to richer countries in northern Europe. The starting salary for a teacher in Luxembourg is a whopping €72,437, followed by Denmark and Germany at €52,517 and €48,698, respectively. In France, the starting salary is €26,140, while in England (as distinct from the UK), the starting salary for a teacher stands at €25,903. These figures do not take into account the level of taxation and the cost of liv- ing in the respective countries, both of which impact the take-home pay and spending power teachers have. Teacher salaries in Malta received a boost last year after a sectoral agree- ment introduced new allowances and upped the pay packet. Increases will continue yearly until 2022, contributing to the improvement of Malta's standing in the European ranking. Salaries ahead of per capita GDP The report also includes a comparison of actual salaries teachers receive, in- cluding allowances, with the respective countries' GDP per capita for the years 2016/2017. Teachers in Malta in that period (which is before the sectoral and pub- lic service agreements of 2017) earned slightly more than the GDP per capita. In Portugal, where teachers earn less than their Maltese counterparts, actu- al salaries were more than 10% higher than per capita GDP. The report also took into considera- tion salary progression, noting that al- though starting salaries are important in attracting new teachers, they are not the only factor to consider. "If salaries rise quickly, then a low starting salary may not necessarily be a disincentive to becoming a teacher," the report states. Malta was classified in the modest cat- egory for early increases in teacher pay, alongside Denmark, Lithuania and Fin- land, among others. In these countries, the total salary in- crease is less than 40% and is awarded within the first 20 years in service. In Malta, the starting salary increases by 15% after 10 years, going up to 20% after 15 years. The equivalent increases in Italy are 11% after 10 years and 22% after 15 years. The report quotes research undertak- en in 2016 that showed Malta having the lowest average age among teachers when compared to the rest of EU mem- ber states. Minister reacts Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said a lot was done to improve the con- ditions for teachers but acknowledged that the work of educators has become more difficult. "There are factors that did not exist 20 years ago. There are challenges re- lated to security and child behaviour, on which we will be announcing new measures this week. But there are also challenges related to foreign students who need individual help, especially on language skills," Bartolo said. He noted that the education system was not isolated from the rest of the country, which posed further chal- lenges to try and attract people to the profession. "It is encouraging to note that Maltese teachers have the lowest average age in the EU but we also have to keep in mind that an 18-year-old today has a multi- tude of work opportunities that offer wages that no school could ever match. But this is a challenge for schools as much as it is for other sectors that have to compete with better wages offered by companies in the financial services sector and gaming," he added. Asked about the controversy on teacher shortages, the minister said the teacher-to-student ratio was "very good" but there still existed gaps in some subjects as a result of the more personalised educational experience. "The system that introduced different tracks in schools meant greater person- alisation in some subjects based on the students' level of attainment. This has resulted in smaller classes, and obvi- ously, a higher demand for teachers," Bartolo said. ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Teachers' starting salaries in Malta below European average, study shows