1 min Published: 21.08.22 — 11.07 Updated: 5 days ago- The greatest responsibility lies with the granting authorities.The salary should go up for the teachers.It is a group that needs to be seen and heard, says Raja to NTB.This week he met the leader of the Education Association Steffen Handal on the street in Arendal.The union is currently on strike and in conflict with the municipal sector's organization KS over pay conditions.On Monday, another 1,300 teachers will go on strike.Now Raja stands side by side with the union to ask for better conditions for the teachers.- KS, the municipalities and politicians must understand why the teaching profession is important.It is the most important profession in Norway, because they work with our own children and Norway's future, says Raja, who is the education policy spokesperson in the party.Teacher salaries are determined through negotiations between KS and the trade unions, and KS has been clear that it has gone as far as the municipalities' finances allow to give teachers pay rises.- We politicians cannot enter into an ongoing conflict.But we can encourage the parties to talk together, says Raja.It is part of history that the Liberal Party governed the Ministry of Education from January 2020 until the election last autumn.Ahead of the national meeting in October, a committee in the party has agreed to increase the salary of teachers, which Raja supports.Handal in the Norwegian Confederation of Education thanks the support from the Liberal politician.- Having respect for the parties in a collective agreement is good.But it is also good to have politicians who care that students have qualified teachers.We need more politicians who do that, he says.- I am very happy that politicians care.It must be frustrating sitting in Parliament to have an employer out there who takes responsibility for the teachers in the way they do now.We have been made wage losers six years in a row.It is not an important contribution to achieving Abid Raja's goals that all students should have a qualified teacher.KS board chairman Gunn Marit Helgesen has the following comment on the matter:- I completely agree with Abid Raja that the teaching profession is very important.That is why we are working with the state and teachers' organizations to strengthen recruitment into education and the profession.This year's salary settlement is one contribution.All young graduates get a substantial pay rise, including teachers.(Terms) Copyright Dagens Næringsliv AS and/or our suppliers.We would like you to share our cases using links, which lead directly to our pages.Copying or other forms of use of all or part of the content can only take place with written permission or as permitted by law.For further terms see here.Dagens Næringsliv is Norway's leading business newspaper.Since 1890, we have been first with news about the industries, companies and people who shape society.We provide you with knowledge, inspiration and a basis for good choices.Dagens Næringsliv is part of NHST Media Group.For more information about NHST Media Group click here.We work according to the Vær Varsom poster's rules for good press etiquette.