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2 clusters · 9 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

Croatia education sector labor shortages and instability

Overview

Croatia is experiencing systemic labor issues within its education sector, specifically regarding staffing and employment stability.

Reports indicate a critical shortage of professional kindergarten teachers, with the deficit increasing from approximately 3,000 in 2020 to 7,008. This shortage has resulted in 30 to 40 percent of educator positions being filled by unskilled staff, such as individuals from the hospitality or economics sectors, due to worsening working conditions. The deficit is most pronounced in rural and smaller regions.

Simultaneously, teaching assistants are facing job insecurity caused by conflicting regulations. While the Labor Act prohibits continuous fixed-term employment beyond three years, schools lack the Ministry approval required to offer permanent contracts because of temporary and project-based funding models. The Preporod School Union has called for legislative amendments to ensure workers can transition to permanent positions, while the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth maintains that negotiations regarding worker status are ongoing.

Entities

Croatia · Preporod School Union · Ministry of Science, Education and Youth · Katarina Turković Gulin · Goranka Marković

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Croatia teaching assistants face job insecurity due to legal conflicts

    Croatia's teaching assistants face job insecurity as conflicting labor laws and temporary funding prevent the transition from fixed-term to permanent contracts.

  2. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Croatia faces critical shortage of kindergarten teachers

    Croatia faces a severe shortage of kindergarten teachers, with 7,008 positions vacant. Unskilled workers are increasingly filling up to 40% of roles due to worsening working conditions.

Sources

aktuelno.me · cginfo.me · dalmatinskiportal.hr · eventbrite.co.uk · glasistre.hr · narod.hr · ogportal.com · vijesti.hrt.hr · zadarskilist.hr