Teacher pay rise triples interest in senior teacher qualifications

Interest in senior and master teacher qualifications has tripled in recent years as higher levels bring higher pay, ERR reports. The increase could put additional pressure on school budgets.

A national teacher career model linking qualification levels to salaries took effect this school year. The autumn application round closed on Monday, which was also Teachers’ Day. By then, 170 portfolios had been submitted for senior or master teacher status.

“We have already received as many senior teacher applications as we did in the whole of last year. There are several application rounds, so the number will certainly rise,” said Margit Timakov, a board member of the Estonian Teachers’ Association.

Not every application meets the requirements. Timakov said portfolios show whether applicants have taken the process seriously, adding that as applications increase, so will the number of rejections.

At Mahtra Basic School, five of the 60 teachers are considering applying for senior teacher status, while two senior teachers already work there. The school pays senior and master teachers more than a third above the state salary rate, making it harder to manage its budget.

“I feel like I’m trying to make ends meet, but all’s well that ends well. The most important thing is that a teacher who knows what they’re doing and wants to be in the classroom is there. They want to be there when they receive fair pay,” said school principal Edgar Roditšenko.

Three teachers at Nõmme Basic School are also considering a higher career level. Principal Õnnela Leedo-Küngas said the school currently has the funds, but school leaders are questioning how sustainable the system would be if applications grow.

Timakov said there has not yet been a national analysis of how many teachers with master-level profiles the education system needs. “At the moment, this is trial and error,” she said.