Education Ministry shortfall for teachers' raises higher than original estimates

estimates The joint commission of the government and local governments agreed yesterday that the budget is lacking zl. 1.2 billion for teachers' raises instead of the zl. 300 million to zl. 800 million estimated in July. Local governments get an education subsidy to finance schools, but it turned out that Education Ministry officials made inaccurate calculations and there was not enough money to pay for teachers' raises due to them according to the new Teachers' Charter. Education Minister Edmund Wittbrodt promised that 2,000 less affluent local governments, or two-thirds of all, will get the money for teachers this year. The remainder will have to find the money or take loans, which the government will refund with interest next year. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 6)