LA PAZ, Bolivia — President Evo Morales cut his salary in half and declared no Cabinet minister can collect a higher wage than his own, with the savings to be used to hire more public school teachers.

The move followed a campaign pledge to tackle political corruption and restore honesty to the government of South America's poorest country. But critics called it a propaganda ploy that will do little to help the needy.

Five days into his leftist government, Morales announced Thursday his salary would be $1,875 a month and that his Cabinet would also have their salaries capped at that figure.

"I ask for (the ministers') understanding and efforts to try to meet this demand, not for Evo but for the people," Morales said.

He said the savings would be used to hire more teachers, adding: "We need 6,000 new teachers and there is only money for 2,200."

Morales' predecessor earned $3,900 a month. The yearly savings of $24,300 is about enough to pay the annual salaries seven experienced teachers, rent a middle class apartment or buy a new Ford Focus in Bolivia.

Street protests by teachers, miners and Indians ousted two of Morales' predecessors since 2003, uprisings fueled by indignation against wealthy elites.

In December, voters elected Morales by a landslide after he promised to tackle corruption and poverty. He was inaugurated Sunday.

Restaurant waiter Jose Maria Oropeza applauded the cuts. "It's a good sign that he's putting his salary on the line so that the country can begin improving, and not only his salary, but all the Cabinet ministers," Oropeza said Friday.

But he said daunting problems remain.

"The poverty rate here is high and no one can deny that. But with this government, I hope that things will start improving," he said.

Critics said the salary cuts were a superficial gesture that would not begin to address Bolivia's deep-seated poverty.

Ruben Costas, governor of Santa Cruz in the country's eastern business hub, called the cuts "demagoguery," saying good leadership and social programs matter more than the president's paycheck.

In addition, some officials complained they might not be able to maintain homes in far-flung districts while working in La Paz.

Since taking office as Bolivia's first Indian president, Morales has also overhauled the armed forces and announced an investigation into a decision last October to let the United States destroy 28 of Bolivia's Chinese shoulder-launched missiles.

"Morales is acutely aware of the symbols, both in terms of the indigenous identity of the country and by setting the standard for cutting salaries," said Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington.