13 September 2011 (ERR)

An OECD report released today, ranks teacher salaries in Estonia among the lowest of member states.

Comparing salaries to nations' GDP-per-person, the analysis concluded that, out of 34 countries surveyed, the average salary of Estonian teachers with at least 15 years of experience was only higher than three other countries - Hungary, Slovakia and Indonesia. Teachers in those countries get paid about 11,000 euros per year, according to the report.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, teachers in Luxembourg were paid 75,000 euros per year, and 45,000 euros in Germany, Ireland and Holland.

Nevertheless, the OECD found that teacher salaries have grown more in Estonia than in any other of the 34 countries since 2000.

In response to the report, the Ministry of Education said it plans to work with local governments to find funding that can be cut in order to raise the salaries of qualified education personnel.