The school year will end on Friday, June 16, even if teachers continue to strike until they see the promise of pay raises in legislation. Education Minister Ligia Deka explained on Sunday after the government meeting that this is “for the good of everyone”, given that the temperature in the classrooms has been rising since the middle of the month, and it will be uncomfortable for students and teachers.

“We have to remember that the reason why school ends around June 15 and then the national exams on a fairly tight schedule is because of the way education is conducted across the country as temperatures rise. For our sake, for everyone’s sake, and especially for the sake of children, it is good that the period of high temperatures is not the period when school activities take place, especially where the infrastructure does not allow to lower the temperature in schools. For that reason, again, for the good of the students, it’s good to stay within the predictable school calendar,” Deka explained.

The competent minister noted that this decision is also beneficial to the students of the final classes, for whom it will be necessary to postpone the exams if the academic year is extended.

“I’m not talking about the fact that if we had a situation with an extension, it would coincide with the dates of the external examinations, in the context of which many educational units become assessment centers. Therefore, it is not desirable to expand the school calendar at any level,” Deka said.

Regarding the restoration of hours lost during the three weeks of the strike, Deka said they will be done in the time remaining before the end of the school year on June 16, as the strike continues on Monday.

“The hours that can be recovered for the remaining 5 days of classes will be recovered through planning that is carried out at the level of the academic unit. They will recover as much as they can recover naturally and legally,” Deka said.

The Education Minister also said she was optimistic after Sunday’s discussions with union leaders and believed the strike would end tomorrow with “positive signs”.

According to the structure of the academic year, the summer vacation begins on June 17 and ends on Sunday, September 10, and classes resume on September 11.

We remind you that teachers must report by Monday at 10:00 a.m. whether they agree with the draft emergency resolution on salary increases. Unions said the strike continued on Monday, entering its fourth week.