Riga, June 25 (LETA) - The government on Wednesday adopted amendments to the rules on teachers' remuneration, which, among other things, provide for timely information of teachers about their remuneration in the current school year, as well as payment for all actually substituted hours and a cap on the remuneration of heads of educational institutions.

From now on, heads of educational establishments will be obliged to inform teachers in writing on their planned salary and workload no later than one month before the start of the school year.

The State Audit Office had found that only a part of heads of educational establishments provide such information one month before the start of the school year, even though it is required already by the Labor Law.

The amendments also require teachers to be paid for all hours actually substituted, including other teaching duties such as preparing lessons or correcting papers, even if the substitution lasts no longer than one month. If the substitution of an absent teacher or the duties of a vacant teaching post continue for more than one month, the procedure for calculating pay remains unchanged.

Currently, data from the National Education Information System show that only 3.8 percent of teachers work more than normal working hours, including heads of educational institutions and their deputies.

From September 2027, these additional duties will be included in normal working hours, preventing working hours exceeding 40 hours per week and ensuring overtime pay in accordance with the law, according to the Education and Science Ministry.

According to the ministry, the adopted amendments will ensure a "systemic and equal" approach to determining teachers' remuneration. However, several education sector organizations have not supported the amendments, expressing concerns about filling vacancies. Local authorities, on the other hand, believe that timely information on pay and workload changes will only be possible once the new funding model Program in School is in place, as this is not feasible under the current Money Follows Pupil model.