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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Elections & Politics

Kyrgyz Lawmaker Defends Teachers Facing Salary Cuts Due to Non-Specialized Diplomas

From 24.kg · (10m ago) Russian Critical tone

Translated from Russian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A Kyrgyz lawmaker, Jyldyz Kurmanalieva, is advocating for primary school teachers with higher education degrees who are being paid at a lower vocational rate.
  • Kurmanalieva argues that these teachers, despite having specialized degrees in subjects like history or physics, are unfairly compensated due to their assignment to primary education.
  • She calls for a review of the payment system to ensure teachers are paid based on their actual qualifications, experience, and workload.

Kyrgyz lawmaker Jyldyz Kurmanalieva has voiced strong opposition to the practice of underpaying primary school teachers who hold specialized higher education degrees. Her intervention highlights a critical issue within the nation's education system, where pedagogical talent may be undervalued due to rigid salary structures.

Kurmanalieva's argument centers on the principle of fairness and recognition of qualifications. She points out the injustice of assigning a lower vocational tariff to teachers with university degrees in fields such as history, mathematics, or physics, simply because they are teaching younger students. Many of these educators have dedicated 10 to 20 years to nurturing the next generation, accumulating significant experience and expertise.

"Assessing the work of educators with higher education at reduced rates is extreme injustice," Kurmanalieva stated, emphasizing that their salaries should reflect their actual level of education, years of service, and the work they perform. This call for a revised payment system aims to ensure that teachers are compensated appropriately, thereby valuing their contributions to the nation's future.

The recent 100% increase in teacher salaries, effective April 1, while a positive step, has not fully resolved this specific discrepancy. The base rate remains unchanged, and the issue of how specialized degrees are factored into the salaries of primary school teachers persists. Kurmanalieva's advocacy is crucial in pushing for a more equitable system that acknowledges the full spectrum of qualifications and experience within the teaching profession in Kyrgyzstan.

Assessing the work of educators with higher education at reduced rates is extreme injustice. These people have been investing knowledge in the younger generation for decades. Salaries should be paid in full, based on the actual level of education, experience, and work performed.

— Jyldyz KurmanalievaKyrgyz lawmaker explaining the unfairness faced by teachers with higher education degrees in primary schools.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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