The Eurydice network, which provides information and analysis on education systems and policies in Europe has published the report ’Teachers’ and School Heads’ Salaries and Allowances in Europe, 2009/10’. It compares different characteristics of teachers’ and school heads’ salaries and provides comparable national data on teachers and school heads remuneration from pre-primary education to upper secondary education.

The cross country comparative part compares the decision-making levels that are responsible for setting teachers’ and school heads’ statutory salaries. The minimum and maximum statutory salaries are presented relative to the GDP per capita in each country, with an indication of salary progression and its relation to professional experience. Additionally, the minimum and maximum statutory salaries in PPS EUR are compared with the average actual salaries (where available). The latest increase/decrease in the purchasing power of personnel employed in education in relation to the impact of the economic crisis since 2008 is also analysed. Finally, the different types of allowances that teachers may receive are presented as well as the decision-making levels responsible for their allocation and their levels.

The report provides also national data sheets. For each country/region, the following elements are included :

• Decision-making levels for setting teachers’/school heads’ basic statutory salaries in public schools ; • Salaries arrangements in the private sector ; • Minimum and maximum annual gross statutory salaries of full-time fully qualified teachers/school heads in public schools ; • Actual salary levels if available ; • Information on salary increase/decrease in the last two years ; • Salary allowances for teachers/school heads.

More information on Eurydice Eurydice provides a vast source of information, including detailed descriptions on the organisation and functioning of national education systems. It also offers European comparative studies covering more specific topics such as the funding of higher education, school governance, language teaching, the teaching profession and so on. The Eurydice network consists of 37 national units based in all 33 countries participating in the EU Lifelong Learning programme and a central coordinating unit based in the Education, Culture and Audiovisual Executive Agency in Brussels.

Eurydice Unit Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOU2) | 1140 Brussels | Belgium Tel. +32 2 299 50 58 Fax : +32 2 292 19 71 E-mail : eacea-eurydice@ec.europa.euhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice

Should you have more questions, please contact Wim Vansteenkiste at wim.vansteenkiste@ec.europa.eu, tel. +32 2 299 50 58.