"No Subscription – No Bonus"

This is a short story of a young teacher.

One month was enough for Minsk dweller Natallia to make it clear that teacher is not her profession. And it is not about lack of ability to spread good, eternal and wise things.

Before her work at school she used to teach English at a private company and earned about $500. Alas, financial difficulties forced the company to get rid of "extra" employees. Natallia was among them. After a while she decided to try her luck at school, Salidarnasts writes.

- I thought it was a soft job not far from home, the girl tells. - Father had a brain attack; I needed to take care of him.

The offered salary seemed to be small to Natallia. But she had no other variant.

- I was promised about 500 rubles that looked miserable compared to $500. But the principal assured that I could get more with bonuses, the girl tells.

That was how workaday life of a new English teacher started.

First doubts rose after her talk to her predecessor who failed to work there for half a year.

- She came to take her documents. She said she had no strength to work for 270 rubles a month, Natallia says.

But the girl had a piece of hope that her situation would differ. Her predecessor had no higher education and work experience.

But the first subsistence allowance added fuel to the fire of doubts.

- I got 140 rubles. I was shocked. I understood I would not get those promised 500 rubles, she tells.

And finally the time for the salary came. The salary and bonuses equaled only to 305 rubles!

- It is better not to work at all, the girl resents. - At once I went to the principal to find out a reason for such low salary. She looked at the pay sheet and stated that everything was right. It turned to be the salary with a bonus!

That was the end. Natallia was informed that she was subject to mandatory subscription to "Nastaunitskaya Hazeta" (Teacher's Newspaper) and the bonus was actually granted for it.

- I did not agree. Then I was told that the bonus of 23 rubles must be given back. And my salary equaled to 283 rubles!

She did not argue and returned the bonus and wrote the notice of resignation. Her work at school came to the end.

- I liked that job, I was really upset. Children behaved well, although they do not speak English at all. How it is possible if one has a new teacher every month? No one wants to work for such salary. It is easier to find a job for those who speak English.

It is noteworthy that, according to the National Statistics Committee, wages in the education sphere amounted to 510 rubles in November.

- Even the category, class supervision and other things can barely guarantee this sum, former teacher notes. - Only few people can get such high salaries. Ordinary teaches earn 280 rubles. What is the average salary? One does not need to be a teacher of mathematics to realize how these figures differ from reality.