In Almost Half of Russia’s Federal Subjects, Teachers Salaries Below Minimum Wage

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Jan. 8 – In 40 percent of Russia’s federal subjects, teachers salaries are below the minimum wage for all workers; and in 35 percent more, their salaries are at the minimum wage. And in four – Karachayevo-Cherkessia, the Jewish AD, Vologda Oblast and Gorny Altai – teachers are paid 5,000 rubles (50 US dollars) a month, less than a third of the minimum.

Not surprisingly, at least 20 of Russia’s federal subjects are currently suffering from a shortage of teachers (iz.ru/1627747/elena-balaian/pouchite-i-raspishites-pochemu-shkolam-v-regionakh-ne-khvataet-pedagogov and sibreal.org/a/oklady-uchiteley-v-75-regionah-rossii-ne-prevyshayut-mrot/32766775.html).

            Among the positions most often vacant are primary school teachers, Russian language instructors, and teaches of mathematics and physics. But the situation is even worse than that, union officials say, In many places, when one teacher quits, he or she isn’t replaced but the work is divided among the remaining teachers so that they can get the extra pay they need to survive.