Maltese teachers are receiving lower salaries than most of their EU counterparts, particularly those in Western Europe.

Teachers in former Communist countries receive even less.

According to a study conducted by Eurydice, an education network, Maltese teachers’ pay in the 2013/2014 scholastic year ranged from €18,254 to €23,997.

Unlike many member states, teachers’ pay in Malta does not vary between primary, secondary and upper secondary levels.

The study also notes that to reach the maximum salary, a teacher in Malta has to spend at least 18 years in a classroom.

However, some teachers receive allowances that boost their take-home pay, including qualification allowances varying from €394 to €932 per annum, an allowance for professional development and up to €800 per annum for additional responsibilities depending on the number of years in service.

Member states should reflect on the role of remuneration and working conditions in attracting and retaining the best candidates

Teaching salaries in Malta are considered to be average among local professions of a similar level and are increasing according to a collective agreement with the government.

However, a teacher in Luxembourg can make almost six times as much as one in a Maltese classroom (see table).

In the UK and Cyprus, where the education system is similar to Malta’s, they can make almost twice as much, but teachers in Romania only earn a third of a Maltese teacher.

Low salaries were recorded in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. In all other member states, teachers are paid more than in Malta.

The EU has strongly promoted better teaching salaries and conditions as it sees this issue as an important investment.

Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said making the profession more attractive was crucial to developing a strong pool of teachers equipped with the necessary skills for the 21st century.

“As the EU recovers from the economic crisis, member states should carefully reflect on the role of remuneration and working conditions in attracting and retaining the best candidates in the teaching profession,” she said.

The current collective agreement for all public service employees came into force in 2012, granting staff an increase of 2.5 per cent per annum until 2016.

Teachers: maximum annual basic gross salaries in €