The fight for fair teacher salary restructuring in Aruba has been ongoing for over a decade, with multiple administrations making promises but failing to deliver. Eduard Pieters, an active member of PPA, shared the frustration of many teachers who have faced broken promises, despite hopes for change.
In the 1990s, the Landsbesluit Bezoldiging Onderwijspersoneel (LBBO) was introduced to standardize teacher salaries based on the type of education and qualifications. However, the reality has been discouraging, with many teachers reaching a salary ceiling by the age of 38, limiting their career growth despite the demanding nature of their profession.
In 2008, teachers protested for eight weeks, sending a clear message to the government that they were tired of political games and wanted concrete action. In 2009, after the AVP party won the elections, many teachers were hopeful that salary restructuring would finally be addressed. However, this promise also went unfulfilled.
In 2015, Minister Hooyboer worked on the issue again, presenting plans to implement changes, but the desired reform never materialized. Over the years, several administrations have come and gone, with commissions and proposals, but no tangible results have been seen. Today, teachers with master’s degrees or higher still do not receive recognition, and many are frustrated by the government’s proposed 3.49% salary increase, which they feel reflects a lack of respect for their contributions.
Pieters underscores the vital role that teachers play in shaping the future of Aruba and expresses regret that after five administrations, teachers are still waiting for the promises made to them. He calls for teachers to be treated with dignity and respect, stating that without motivated and fairly treated teachers, Aruba’s future is at risk.
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