Just when one thought that the teachers’ strike was close to ending, strike action has been renewed indefinitely.
In response, President Juan Carlos Varela announced that if teachers failed to reach an agreement with the government, the administration would apply executive decree number 155 of March 27, 2014. The latter determines the creation of an evaluation system across education centers, as well as salary adjustments.
In a televised audio statement, the president again denounced the strike as unnecessary, further declaring that if no agreement was reached by today, "cabinet would meet to approve the state budget which would include said decree in its current form'.
President Varela renewed its appeal that teachers return to the classroom next Monday, July 25, and that parents take their children to school on that day.
For their part, teacher leaders reminded the administration that their demands not only concern salary improvements and back payments, up but also that the government should honor its promise to invest 6% of GDP in education.
Teacher leader Yadira Pino accused the government of “failing to put in writing the 6% pledge”, which according to teachers’ demand should become effective starting in 2017. Only then could school be guaranteed decent conditions and could the government talk of 'providing high standards of education', she argued.
Ms. Pino confirmed that industrial action on the part of teachers will continue until the government started 'behaving coherently with what they promised'.
In reference to President Varela's election campaign slogan, the teacher declared 'education should come first if the population really comes first'. She went on to argue that it was high time the government stopped haggling and instead focused on delivering better conditions for students as well as teachers.
For his part, Eleazar Gomez of the National Confederation of Parents, condemned the strike action as irresponsible, arguing that it showed great disrespect of students' needs.
