Teachers Protest in Zagreb Over Pay and Evaluation

The news in Croatian

Translation

In Zagreb, a large protest by teachers was held against the new Salary and Evaluation System Law. The protest was organised by education unions, demanding fair coefficients for teachers. The protest began at Republic of Croatia Square and ended at Ban Jelačić Square, with teachers announcing further protests if their demands are not met.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What did the teachers in Zagreb protest against?

They protested against the new law on pay and evaluation system.

Question 2: Where did the protest in Zagreb begin and end?

The protest began at Trg Republike Hrvatske and ended at Trg bana Jelačića.

Exercise: Vocabulary

Read the full story

▌15/12/2024

In Zagreb, a significant demonstration by educators took place, highlighting their dissatisfaction with a new Law on Salaries and Evaluation System. This protest, orchestrated by various educational unions, drew thousands to Croatia's capital, voicing their concerns about planned legislative changes set to be enacted on January 1st.

The demonstration, termed "Advent Protest against Evaluation and Unjust Coefficients," was a display of solidarity from the Union of Science, the School Union Preporod, and the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees. The protest saw a procession that began at the Republic of Croatia Square and made its way towards Ban Jelačić Square, disrupting public transport in the area.

Zrinko Turalija, president of the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees, emphasized the unity among the unions despite previous differences. Their collective goal is "to secure coefficients for the education sector that are appropriate to their role in society," a sentiment that was widely echoed by the demonstrators.

Critics of the new evaluation system argue that the proposed "equal pay for equal work" framework has not translated into practice, with many educators feeling undervalued compared to other public service sectors. Turalija also highlighted that the new regulations would introduce burdensome evaluation tasks that could erode collegiality among teachers, fostering a "fear of mistakes and punishment" over creative and autonomous work.

Teachers Protest in Zagreb Over Pay and Evaluation (Illustration)

Tvrtko Smital, from the Independent Union of Science and Higher Education, criticized the lack of practical application in the proposed evaluation reforms. He pointed out that similar systems globally have often resulted in decreased workplace cooperation rather than enhanced performance or satisfaction.

Matija Kroflin, the general secretary of the same union, echoed these concerns, accusing the government of previously leveraging the issue of coefficients to win elections, only to neglect real reform post-victory. Kroflin emphasized the unions' demands: exclusion from the evaluation system and the establishment of fair coefficients without restrictive conditions.

On the other side, the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education remarked that teacher salaries have already increased by over 60% during the current government's mandate. They suggested the protest lacked rational justification, citing recent salary hikes and ongoing negotiations as evidence of progress.

The unified stance of the unions has indicated that continued protests, or even strikes, may ensue if these issues are not adequately addressed. "Our message is simple: stop the evaluations and provide fair coefficients," Kroflin declared, asserting their determination to persist.

Info: "Croatian Learner News" is a service from "Let's Learn Croatian", a language school dedicated to teaching the Croatian language. Our online courses are supported by experienced Croatian tutors to help you achieve your learning goals effectively.

Advanced: Reports from Croatia