Poor teacher salary is a big problem in Lithuania
A lot of Lithuanian teachers complain about insufficient pay. I interviewed Regina, a Lithuanian language teacher. Regina told me about her work and the conditions around it.
Regina explained that she is unhappy with her current salary. She is a perfectionist and wishes to do everything in the best possible way. She explained that it is extremely important for her to make sure that each of her students understands and learns every topic in her class. Teacher also explained that it usually takes a lot of time for her students to understand and learn the things she is teaching and she does not get a raise for the extra time she puts in for the welfare of her students. There is one paid hour per week dedicated for consultations, which are meant to help students who need more in depth explanation to understand and learn the subject. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to set one hour per week, which suits all. Therefore, Regina and most other teachers from her school, unpaid consultations out of their own good will.
Lithuanian language teachers in Žiežmariai school get sixteen paid hours each week for the correction of tests and other work for classes. It is also a requirement for teachers to correct one test in three minutes and they get around three euros for each corrected test or essay. I think it is only fair to state that it is simply impossible to correct a five hundred words essay within three minutes, which is why teachers constantly work after working hours for free. Regina is a great teacher, her students adore and appreciate her. She spends so much extra time working as a tutor, correcting student‘s homework, essays, organizing extracurricular activities, trips and much more.
Most people would agree that such teachers deserve to get paid fairly and they should not spend their own time trying to help and educate students. In conclusion, after this interview it seems working as a teacher is not even the right term, it is being a teacher that is extremely difficult. It is also obvious teachers in Lithuania are underpaid and I strongly believe that the Lithuanian government should appreciate teachers more and finally treat this profession as a prestigious work that is worth investing in.
A lot of Lithuanian teachers complain about insufficient pay. I interviewed Regina, a Lithuanian language teacher. Regina told me about her work and the conditions around it.
Regina explained that she is unhappy with her current salary. She is a perfectionist and wishes to do everything in the best possible way. She explained that it is extremely important for her to make sure that each of her students understands and learns every topic in her class. Teacher also explained that it usually takes a lot of time for her students to understand and learn the things she is teaching and she does not get a raise for the extra time she puts in for the welfare of her students. There is one paid hour per week dedicated for consultations, which are meant to help students who need more in depth explanation to understand and learn the subject. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to set one hour per week, which suits all. Therefore, Regina and most other teachers from her school, unpaid consultations out of their own good will.
Lithuanian language teachers in Žiežmariai school get sixteen paid hours each week for the correction of tests and other work for classes. It is also a requirement for teachers to correct one test in three minutes and they get around three euros for each corrected test or essay. I think it is only fair to state that it is simply impossible to correct a five hundred words essay within three minutes, which is why teachers constantly work after working hours for free. Regina is a great teacher, her students adore and appreciate her. She spends so much extra time working as a tutor, correcting student‘s homework, essays, organizing extracurricular activities, trips and much more.
Most people would agree that such teachers deserve to get paid fairly and they should not spend their own time trying to help and educate students. In conclusion, after this interview it seems working as a teacher is not even the right term, it is being a teacher that is extremely difficult. It is also obvious teachers in Lithuania are underpaid and I strongly believe that the Lithuanian government should appreciate teachers more and finally treat this profession as a prestigious work that is worth investing in.