The island’s teachers have had a higher net pay increase than the civil servant average according to the Minister for Policy and Reform.

Chris Thomas was asked by Daphne Caine (Garff): ’What have the civil service pay awards been in total since 2009, compared with teachers’ pay awards over the same period; also by how much have pension contributions increased for both a) civil servants and b) teachers?’

In his response, Mr Thomas said that as teachers’ pay for 2019 has not yet been agreed, the data is only updated to last year.

He added: ’Between April 2009 and April 2018 Civil Service pay increased by 16.9%.

’Pay for main scale teachers increased between September 2009 and September 2018 by 12.4%.’

Teachers’ net pay rises above the civil servant average as their pension contributions have not increased as much as they have in other government areas.

Mr Thomas said: ’Between 2009 and 2019 civil service pension contributions increased by 8%.

’Over the same period the average pension contribution for teachers increased by 3.2%.

’The effect of these changes (i.e. by deducting the contribution increase from the pay increase) shows a net increase for civil servants of 8.9% and a net increase of 9.2% for main scale teachers.’

We previously reported that teaching union NASUWT has written to the education department warning it will consider balloting its members for industrial action unless its request for a court of inquiry over teachers’ pay award is ’actioned without further delay’.