Agreement

In Palmse
February 15, 2006

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia (hence forth The Ministry) and Estonian Education Personnel Union (hence forth EEPU) - reckoning that the prerequisites for the effective functioning of the education system are the popularity of the teaching profession, the accordance of the education personnel's working, salary and rest conditions with the responsibilities and stress that the teaching work comprises, the high level of education personnel training, the wide variety of training possibilities and international co-operation, as well as the recognizing of outstanding teachers - continue their co-operation in the following fields:

1. The working, salary and rest conditions of education personnel

1.1 The Ministry and EEPU analyze the questions and problems in the field of education that are brought to their attention and in co-operation, prepare relevant explanations, guiding materials and upon need, submit motions to amend legal acts.

1.2 The Ministry will involve authorized representatives of EEPU in working groups that elaborate draft legal acts and regulations concerning the working, salary and rest conditions of education personnel, or will involve them as experts when preparing for such work.

1.3 EEPU will present their standpoints concerning the draft legal acts and regulations that cover the working, salary and rest conditions of education personnel, to the Ministry.

1.4 The Ministry and EEPU will invite each other's authorized representatives to conferences and seminars discussing the working, salary and rest conditions of education personnel.

1.5 The Ministry and EEPU will order and and co-finance surveys on the labour situation and remuneration of education personnel.

2. The labour law related training of education personnel

2.1 EEPU and the Ministry will arrange the compiling of labour law related training materials and the organizing of relevant training for teachers.

3. The training, in-service training and evaluation of education personnel

3.1 The Ministry will inform EEPU on any draft legal acts pertaining to teacher training and evaluation, concerning which EEPU has expressed their standpoints);

3.2 The Ministry will incorporate EEPU in the national teacher evaluation board;

3.3 Upon need, EEPU will present their suggestions pertaining to state-commissioned teacher training by November 15 each year, whereas the suggestions concerning the following year will be presented by EEPU by January 15 of the current year.

4. Information exchange between The Ministry and EEPU

4.1 EEPU will have the right to apply for permission to access the Estonian Education Information System (EEIS) and the data it contains in accordance with the provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act.

4.2 The Ministry will enable EEPU to use the data form EEIS according to the procedure set forth in the statutes of EEIS.

4.3 EEPU will inform The Ministry on the surveys held among teachers and will enable The Ministry to use the respective data.

5. Competition "Teacher of the Year"

5.1 The Ministry and EEPU will organize the competition "Teacher of the Year" every year, associating this event with the World Teachers' Day.

6. International co-operation

6.1 The Ministry will inform EEPU on the co-operation offers received from foreign trade, professional and other unions of education personnel.

6.2 EEPU will help to develop the relationships between foreign and Estonian trade, professional and other unions of education personnel and will mediate international in-service training for teachers and other co-operation activities.

7. The Agreement will take effect upon signature and will remain in force for two years.

8. Summaries will be made of following the Agreement upon need, but not more seldom than once a year.

9. All the amendments to the Agreement will take effect upon signature by the representatives of The Ministry and EEPU.

10. The Agreement has been compiled in two identical copies, of which one will be given to the Ministry and the other to EEPU.

Mailis Reps
Minister of Education and Science

Sven Rondik
Chairman of the Executive Board of EEPU