Czech government needs 35 billion CZK extra budget to raise teacher salaries to 130% of average wage

Experts say that to raise Czech teachers’ pay to 130 percent of the average wage, the education budget must grow by about 35 billion Czech crowns next year. Daniel Münich of the IDEA think‑tank told journalists that the current budget of 284 billion CZK would have to reach at least 334 billion CZK, matching the average OECD spending intensity. A broader increase of 40‑50 billion crowns would be required to bring overall education spending in line with OECD averages.

The demand was addressed to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Finance Minister Alena Schillerová, with 25 organisations signing the appeal. Analysts note that the Czech Republic currently spends 3.6 percent of GDP on education, below the OECD average of 4 percent, and 4.2 percent when private contributions are included. Additional allocations are suggested for mental‑health support (4 billion CZK) and higher education (8 billion CZK).