RIGA, June 22 (LETA) - Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) is confident that the reform of teachers' wage model will be successful, the politician said in an interview with the Latvian public television today.

Karins said that he understands concerns of teachers and the approach of the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) trying to get benefit from politicians during pre-election time.

At the same time, he said that "for four years we have flooded into this system several tens of millions of euros every year, satisfying teachers' demand for a pay rise", but nobody is satisfied with the result - teachers, local governments, children and their parents.

According to Karins, the reform prepared by the Education and Science Ministry and approved by the government on Tuesday, envisaged that the wage fund is given in the hands of the local government and the local governments then works with its school network. 

The politician compared teachers' concerns with fear before the euro was introduced in Latvia.

"I am sure that this reform will be successful, teachers will receive their wages and see that everything is in order. I think that at present they just fear the changes,"  said Karins, adding that changes were necessary because "we cannot expect different results by doing the same thing over again".

As reported, the government on Tuesday adopted the new distribution model and calculation system for teachers' wages that will ensure additional funding to local governments who have their school network arranged.

The new model "pupil in municipal territory" will mean decentralization of decision making and changes in the principles of calculating target subsidies.

In line with the new model, target subsidies will be calculated for municipalities, and not for each education establishment separately. Local governments will have a larger role in arranging their school network and ensuring competitiveness of teachers' wages.