The candidate for the Ministers of Education, Science and Sports evaluated: “Perhaps there will be no need to strike”

Andrius Navickas, president of one of the most active unions in education 15 minutes stated that he had seen J.Šiugždinienė several times. It made a good impression.

“So far, the initial impression is very good, and then we will judge the person by the work,” commented A. Navickas.

If J.Šiugždinienė is appointed, first, according to him, the Minister will have to carry out a budget review.

A. Navickas: the first job is to review the budget

“The first job should be to review the budget. Teachers had some expectations in the past and the government was developing a strategy, but the budget does not address those things where the expectations of the educational community were raised. This could really be adjusted here for the new government, ”said the union leader.

At Omeny, he had a government-approved strategy for long-term sustainable public sector salary financing by 2025 and a 10 percent increase in teacher salaries each year.

I think the educational community should no longer oppose it.

“And then it is clear: a national agreement,” Navickas added. – I believe that the educational community should no longer oppose it, as it has done so far. The joint work must be agreed and implemented consistently. “

The Education Workers Union, led by A. Navickas, has repeatedly demanded higher salaries for teachers, lower workloads, or clearer working conditions. One of them, in December 2018, forced the then Minister of Education and Science Jurgitas Petrauskienė to resign.

By taking over the ministerial portfolios of another government, A. Navickas hoped that no strikes would be needed.

“Perhaps it is not necessary, perhaps this government listens to the community, to society and we do not have to go on strike,” he said.

Fr Baltrušaitis: there should be a good minister

Kaunas College Principal Paulius Baltrušaitis commented favorably on J.Šiugždinienė.

“I know her, we are still from Kaunas, she had to find me. She is an experienced entrepreneur and has been acting rector on a temporary basis. I think she should be a good minister.” 15 minutes commented.

If J.Šiugždinienė becomes a minister, in the first place, in the opinion of P. Baltrušaitis, she should undertake changes in general education.

“And the programs themselves are relevant: reviewing that content to make it relevant. We see that the achievements of the state tests do not make us happy either. Of course, this is also related to the qualifications of the teachers, and also related to their motivation, that is, your salary.

It is also related to the network, as the network may be too wide given the small number of children. The Minister may also need to review it by optimizing and concentrating those resources, using them more efficiently in the same educational system ”, said the director of the higher school.

V. Targamadze: do not expect quick results

Vilija Targamadze, a representative of the opposition Social Democratic Party and an education expert, said she appreciated J. Šiugždinienė for her expertise and assured that she could be a successful minister.

I can’t say if he has experience in general education or vocational training, but he does in higher education.

“I have had to face it more than once. I value her as a person who is capable of listening, seeing problems and seeking solutions without dividing herself and without dividing herself. She impresses me. She is also quite experienced. I cannot say if she has experience. in general education or vocational training, but has it in higher education.

Your ideas are very important to me and I believe that if you are able to form a team by yourself, rethink the activities of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and its subordinate institutions not only structurally but also functionally, clearly define the objectives in consultation with experts rather than people, I think he can lead the ministry with great success “, 15 minutes commented the Seimas member.

It is true that he added that quick results should not be expected: “It is difficult to expect that the objectives will be achieved immediately in such an inert system. There is a big pothole. “

The new government intends to draft a national agreement on education. And, according to V. Targamadze, it should reflect the interests of the state.

“We have agreements to have, but to have them, we have to define goals. Today we see that there is no dialogue, because each side goes with its own parliamentary party, there are visions of different ideologies. We must not forget that education is not the property of any of us: a group, a party. This is a matter of state, we must distance ourselves from the inability to speak, to listen to others, “he said.

R. Kveselaitis: expectation – a suitable deputy minister

The outgoing government recently changed the name of the Ministry of Education and Science and assigned it to sport. According to Rimantas Kveselaitis, president of the Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations, the government managed its responsibilities well.

“Those who are no longer in power have made good sporting decisions: <...> I have my own minister, I increased the Support Fund for Culture and Sports for physical activity projects. But the implementation of the decisions depends a lot on who makes it. ” 15 minutes commented.

Therefore, according to R. Kveselaitis, it is very important what J. Šiugždinienė would bring to the deputy ministers, if, of course, she herself were appointed to the position.

“Expectations – that the deputy minister will come purely from sports. Not to be some kind of teacher who has never had anything to do with sports. To come a man who lives in the spirit of sport <...> and understand cooking from athlete training to mass sports ”, he said.

In general, R. Kveselaitis stated that politicians have pushed the sports field to the sidelines: “People in government often remember sports when it is necessary to stand on the flag or honor athletes, but there is really little talk about sports “.

Authorities often remember sports when it comes to standing in front of the flag or honoring athletes.

More specifically, the president of the Union of Sports Federations said that attention was lacking, for example, to the Foundation for the Promotion of Physical Culture and Sports.

“There is also a Foundation for the Promotion of Physical Culture and Sports, we are not satisfied with the way it is divided, we have drawn up many proposals from the federations,” said R. Kveselaitis.

He said that he did not know J.Šiugždinienė, but was happy that the candidate was playing sports in his spare time: active sports: motor kites, sailing. It means that a person comes with character and drive. “

J.Šiugždinienė would like to reduce the differences

To the proposed ministers J.Šiugždinienė named it among the most important works reduce the differences between urban and rural schools, seek to change the content of general education, strengthen teacher training and increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession.

The candidate for minister welcomed the president’s initiative to provide preschool education to children from families at social risk. Among the important works, he named the national party agreement on education.

This agreement also stands out as a priority in the coalition agreement between the TS-LKD, the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party.

“It just came to our knowledge then (National Agreement on Education – 15min) Ensure that all Lithuanian children have the same opportunities to obtain the best education, regardless of their place of residence or social status.

With the agreement, we will consolidate and begin to implement qualitative changes in education, financing of education ensuring the quality of education and the efficiency of the system, agreement on a long-term curriculum renewal program, reorganization of training and teacher development,

TS-LKD set the following goals in the field of education in the field of education, for example:

• move to universal early childhood education from the age of five and ensure that early childhood educators have access to higher education;
• link child money allocated to families at social risk with compulsory preschool education;
• use the best teacher training universities in Europe to help with teacher training strategies;
• negotiate a constantly growing salary for teachers, which by 2025 should reach 130%. average salary;
• update the achievement evaluation system;
• establish the Millennium Gymnasiums;
• implement a program to attract world-renowned and high-level researchers to scientific centers;
• increase funding for one student and another.

You can get acquainted with the entire TS-LKD program in the field of education. here.

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