Teachers can take leave during the school year, labour inspectorate says

Teachers may take annual paid or unpaid leave during the school year, Latvia’s State Labour Inspectorate says, after parents at a secondary school objected to a teacher taking leave shortly before a student holiday. The issue was reported by LSM’s 4. studija television programme.

At Ernsta Glika Aluksne State Gymnasium, a teacher took leave shortly before the students’ autumn break. Parents said the absence could affect the effectiveness of lessons and students’ academic performance.

The Labour Law does not prohibit teachers from taking leave during the school year, said Dainis Deigelis, the inspectorate’s lead expert for media relations. Student holidays are still working time for teachers, he said, and there is no regulation preventing a teacher from taking leave before a school break.

Leave dates are agreed with the employer, Deigelis said. The employer draws up the leave schedule and must ensure that work continues. Planning the teaching process is the school’s responsibility.

If parents disagree with a teacher about the provision of lessons, they should first contact the school management. If the issue is not resolved, they can approach the local education authority or the school’s founder, which in this case is the municipality. The State Education Quality Service is the final point of contact.

Gymnasium principal Uva Grencione-Lapseniete said the teaching process had not been disrupted. She said no parents had raised the issue with the school and that, although some teachers had taken a day or a week of leave before the autumn break, lessons had not been cancelled.