Teacher Exposes Salary Under-Indexation and Silencing in Saratov School
Naira Adikyan is a teacher in Rovnoye who has reported ongoing salary and working condition issues.
In the Rovenky district of Saratov region, teachers« salaries were indexed lower than in the region as a whole. This was reported to a 164.ru correspondent by Naira Adikyan, a teacher at the secondary school in the village of Rovnoye.
Specifically, on 23 September, Vice-Governor Mikhail Orlov signed a resolution to index teachers« salaries by 1.045 times, while the head of Rovenky district, Anton Bugaev, a few days before that, signed a resolution for an indexation of 1.04 times.
Naira Vardanovna emphasized that salary problems for teachers at the school in Rovnoye have been ongoing for years. In February, she told our colleagues from IA «Vzglyad-info» that she teaches 30 hours a week, in addition to other pedagogical duties. However, for her full workload, she is paid less than 20,000 rubles (approximately $222 at current rates). Around the same time, she appealed to Bugaev and asked him to address the situation.
«But no action was taken by the administration until May, when I wrote to the prosecutor«s office in Saratov and to the district one. That is, our administration only promises [to raise teachers» pay], but does not deliver,» emphasized Adikyan.
According to her observations, the work with teachers boils down to silencing the dissatisfied. Nevertheless, Naira Adikyan has currently been promised that salaries will be additionally increased starting next month.
«But you all saw the resolutions. How could they initially allow this payment to be reduced? On what basis?» she wonders.
The troubles of Rovenky teachers do not end there. On the second floor of the school, near the classrooms, a cloakroom was set up.
«According to SanPiN (Sanitary Rules and Norms) it is not permitted and not planned to have a cloakroom on the second floor of an educational institution. Our principal [Olga Maslova], despite repeated warnings from teachers in our organization, does not listen to us. They are placing the cloakroom on the second floor, right in the passage where the educational process takes place. This interferes with the quality of knowledge acquisition. We explained the situation, showed her which clause we are asking her not to take these actions. To which she replied that the cloakroom will definitely be located here for now.»
I told her: «Olga Nikolayevna, excuse me, I respect you, but this will interfere with my teaching process and the quality of knowledge, and I will not allow it.» She immediately cut me off, saying that if I don«t like this situation, she has the right to replace any teacher. This was said at a teachers» meeting! That is, in this way she tried to shut up those who are outraged by her decision,» our interlocutor said.
In Naira Adikyan«s opinion, there is «complete anarchy» in the school, as education quality remains the last priority, and SanPiN requirements are ignored.
«And when we try to explain that this is not allowed, they shut us up with the threat: “if you don«t like it, write a statement, we»ll find a replacement for you”. That«s exactly what was said yesterday,» the teacher added.
