Reemo Voltri News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The Estonian educators' union EHL on Tuesday accepted the government's offer to raise the minimum wage for teachers, which means that the teacher strike will end.

Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa) and Reemo Voltri, head of the Estonian Education Personnel Union, said on the "Terevisioon" morning show on Wednesday that they are trying to reach a satisfactory compromise in the matter of teachers' salaries. Teachers are prepared to go on strike should that not happen.

Low salaries are behind a lack of interest in teaching courses at higher education institutions in Estonia, with science, tech and also foreign languages among the major problem areas. This has left many course places unfilled, as the academic year approaches.

As the start of the new school year approaches, dozens of schools across Estonia are still looking for more teachers. The Estonian Educational Personnel Union (EHL) estimates that the country's school system is currently short some 1,000 properly qualified teachers, and the shortage is worsening by the year.

The Estonian Educational Personnel Union (EHL) is entering talks with the Ministry of Education and Research on Tuesday in which it is aiming to secure premiums for more experienced teachers. This would involve some €150 million in extra funding per year.