A hunger strike declared and provided BG Teacher Union these days. At least 2000 teachers lived on starvation for about 10 days. Some damaged their health significantly.
They demanded on a 15 percent rise of their 150 euro per a month salaries. The Government rejected and offered 3 percent. Today (12.12. 2005) all BG teachers go on an effective strike.
With reference to this appears the answer to the question – What does EU citizenship mean to us today of a 20-year-old student in Psychology at Sofia University – Nikoleta Atanasova.
Teachers are neglected by the government and the educational system is ridiculous…. no help can be expected...And what’s going to happen with all our young and talented Bulgarian children? We are drastically diminishing their potential and how do we expect them to be unique and standing still on their feet when we enter the EU?
Do we really think that things will change? Do we really believe that our laws, police and Government will change? Probably some of our lifestyle standards will alter, but the people will remain the same and so no change will last long enough. We are abandoned by our Government and EU citizenship is not going to save us if we don’t make up things for ourselves. People have to change, and slowly, step by step this will lead the whole nation to a change.
Lots of people are frightened of entering the EU, because they do not know what to expect and people are afraid of the unknown…. We want to be appreciated, acknowledged, to be paid more, to have a chance to develop and to provide our skills…
We have nothing left but hope. EU membership is our last chance to be part of the things happening in our country.
