Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed comparisons between the wages of teachers and security service agents as "pointless", the Lenta news website reported Wednesday.
Medvedev was quizzed on the wage discrepancy while fielding questions at a youth forum. Junior teachers in Russia earn between 10,000 and 15,000 rubles ($150-225) a month, while law enforcement officers earn 50,000 rubles ($750).
“I taught after graduating from university," said Medvedev. "My salary was 90 rubles while a policeman’s was 250. Police work is difficult and can be dangerous so you shouldn’t compare the two,” he said.
Teachers also have opportunities to supplement their incomes with additional work, Medvedev claimed.
“If you just want to make money, then there are many wonderful places where you can do that," he said. "But you didn’t enter business, did you? So that’s your choice."
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