The Education and Science Trade Unions Federation denies authorities’ accusations that there are political parties behind teachers’ protests. In a news conference at IPN on April 12, members of the Federation said their demands are purely social in character.

Corina Palangica, trade union leader at a Chisinau kindergarten and educator, said she regrets that the authorities believe someone from the political sphere influences them to mount protests, while the educators demand that their right to decent living is respected. “They repeatedly tried to prevent us from protesting. They do not fulfill their duties and we have to take to the streets and beg and they now accuse us of political activities,” stated Corina Palangica.

Valentina Mocanu, educator at a kindergarten in Chisinau, noted her decision to take to the streets was influenced by no political party. “This is the wish of teaching staffs that need higher salaries to have decent living conditions. We are not politically influenced. There is no political party behind us. We, the teachers, do not pursue political goals,” said Valentina Mocanu.

On the other hand, the Federation’s leader Dumitru Ivanov said particular political parties that are in power influence the teaching and non-teaching staffs to give up mounting protests. Some of the staffs were intimidated when they tried to join in the previous protests. “The parties with interests resorted to intimidation in some of the districts. The person who intimidated is a party member and a representative of the government,” stated Ivanov.

Last week, after the large-scale protest staged by teachers, Minister of Education Corina Fusu said teachers’ protests look political in character. She specified then that the authorities haven’t budgeted money for increasing teachers’ pays this year.