Lithuania approves teacher salary increases in new budget

The Lithuanian government has approved a budget project for next year that includes a 7.56 percent increase in salaries for teachers and education sector employees. This increase is composed of a 4.5 percent rise in official salary coefficients, a 2.5 percent increase in the base salary size, and a 0.43 percent adjustment for complexity and other payments. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė noted that while the prestige of the profession remains a subject of debate, salaries in the education sector are growing faster than in other parts of the public sector.

Responses to the budget proposal have been mixed. While some in the education community view it as progress toward the goal of reaching 130 percent of the average national wage, others, including teachers' unions, argue the increase is insufficient and have called for a 10 percent rise.

In a separate development regarding the teaching profession, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport announced the annual Teacher of the Year award recipients. Among the eight laureates is Jolanta Narbutaitienė, an informal education expert and theater director from Ignalina, recognized for her 37 years of professional activity and her contributions to youth theater festivals.