OAJ accuses cities of unfair teacher hiring practice

President of the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) Olli Luukkainen on Friday accused the municipalities of 'unfair manoeuvring' in the criteria of the teachers work contracts, national broadcaster Yle reported.

Talking to the Yle's Aamu-tv programme, He also criticised the municipalities for the practice of hiring teachers only on the first day of school.

He said that some local governments refuse to continue the job agreement of the teachers till the first day of the school year.

The union leader also pointed out the lower teacher-student ratios in classrooms in the face of growing learning outcome disparities, said the Yle report.

The OAJ leader said that Finland allocates the least amount of resources among Nordic countries into teachers' continued skills development.

He emphasised on better training for the teachers and rectors to develop their pedagogical skills.