CAIRO – Teachers will be paid performance-related bonuses according to new regulations as of last July, the Ministry of Finance announced in a statement on Saturday. “Assistant teachers and other employees on the same level will receive 75 per cent on top of their basic salaries, and teachers will receive 50 per cent,” the statement explained. While commodity prices are peaking, salaries have not been adjusted to higher living costs. Teachers complain about being poorly paid. Last week, thousands of teachers protested in front of Cabinet premises in Cairo, demanding higher wages and benefits and the dismissal of Minister of Education Ahmed Gamal Eddin. They threatened to strike and not to go to work in the new school year, which started on Saturday. “Ministry of Education officials have to apply and pay these performance-related bonuses as of July 2011. All employees with educational jobs have the right to receive them,” the statement said.