1. Social dialogue – enhancing professional profile, effectiveness of initial education, early career support and continuous learning –
LIZDA experience
ESSDE Plenary Meeting, November 19,2018, Brussels
Dr. sc. admin. Dita Stefenhagena, LIZDA

2. LIZDA - member of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) Social dialogue
Schools, school directors. Latvian Association of Education Leaders (LIVA),
Regional governments (Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LSA)
Ministry of Education and Science
Government of Latvia (LIZDA member of National Tripartite Co-operation Council) – executive power
Saeima – the Parliament of Latvia (legislative power)

3. ETUCE Resolution on Empowering Education Trade Unions:
The Key to Promoting Quality Education recognizes the dual role of education trade unions in both
(1) providing support to teachers in relation to their terms and conditions of employment and
(2) in relation to professional matters, and stresses that education trade unions are highly competent in both roles.

4. At national and regional education trade union level it is important to
provision of a wide offer, to increase teachers’ status
fight against teacher shortage
supports professional autonomy of teachers and freedom of pedagogy and didactics
ensure shared governance on teachers’ training and that education trade unions have a role on the decisions on legislative frameworks regarding initial and continuous training
conduct research and surveys on teachers’ professional needs
initial teacher training, career progression
provided and funded via public resources
link between schools and initial and continuous training provision of higher education institutions
Source: Practical Guidelines for Education Trade Unions on How to represent effectively teachers’ professional needs within the unions’ capacity and social dialogue structures (2018)

5. Education requirements for teachers (amendments of regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers)
New content to be implemented in general education starting from 2020/2021

6. LIZDA’s priorities 2017/2018 school year
Implementation of teachers’ salary raise schedule ( )
Social support programmes for education personnel
Social guarantees for education personnel in the Education Law
- New content to be implemented in general education starting from 2020/2021
- Keeping the same age (6 or 7) for pupils to acquire basic education
-Qualification, working conditions and salaries of education end science employees

7. Problems identified by LIZDA concerning teachers’ professional development
Insufficient availability and quality of teachers' continuous professional development (CPD), especially in regions, rural areas
Continuing education may be formal, the offer does not satisfy teachers' needs; The content of training courses does not always coincide with the promised programmes
Teachers often have to pay for the courses on their own. Professional development may be organized after working hours. It is important to have support from local governments
Problem - frequent changes in normative regulations on professional requirements for teachers
Lack of information, resources and time on professional development necessary for the new education reform

8. How to represent effectively teachers’ professional needs within the union’s capacity and social dialogue
Collective agreement in order to guarantee education employees access to professional development
Professional issues as part of social dialogue – at school, regional government and national levels

9. Shortage of teachers
Shortage is explained by: teaching profession is getting less attractive, working conditions, low salary)
Statistical data vs. reality (shortage of teachers in physics, chemistry, Russian and English languages)
Generational change – slow (44% of teachers -50 years and more)
6 HEIs will prepare teachers who will be able to implement new competence based content at schools, ESF funding available

10. Teaching profession has become less attractive
What has been done by LIZDA:
Agreements between LIZDA and main political parties
Research «How to improve teachers’ professional support» conducted. Results to be disseminated at LIZDA December 7, 2018 Conference
Regular contests
Annual salary raise (achieved by LIZDA)

11. Amendments in normative regulations (11. 09. 2018
Amendments in normative regulations ( ) «Regulations on required education and professional qualification for teachers»
These regulations indicate:
Shorter professional competence programme (160 h) to teach another subject. Unlimited possibility to teach at primary and secondary levels
Primary level (1st grade) – possibility for pre-school teacher qualification or acquired professional qualification of pre-school content and didactics

12. Activities planned in study year 2018/2019  
Development of a stable and well organized methodological support system for teachers
Development of a support programme for young teachers (early career support)
Continuing salary raise of education employees according to the adopted schedule
Gradual transition of financing of pre-school education employees from the local governments’ budget to state budget have to be ensured
To ensure financing for implementation of the draft law «Law on retirement pension for special education, sports and pre-school teachers»

13. Thank you! dita.stefenhagena@lizda.lv
twitter.com/lizda_lv