Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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 Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:31 am Post subject: Educators to strike in Chile |
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http://www.santiagotimes.cl/santiagotimes/news/education/chilean-teachers-nationwide-education-strike.html
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CHILEAN TEACHERS CALL NATIONWIDE EDUCATION STRIKE
Monday, 02 June 2008
Chile�s National Teachers Union on Friday announced it will strike this Wednesday to demand the removal of the proposed General Education Law (LGE) from congressional consideration. The union asked parents not to send their children to school on Wednesday and called on high school and university students to mobilize.
Protests over the proposed education reform closed several schools this past week
Christian Pe�a, Santiago Times
If passed, the LGE reform package will replace the current Organic Constitutional Education Law (LOCE). Opponents claim that the reform does not properly address inequality and profit-focused practices within the Chilean education system.
�We�re calling on high school and university students, parents and guardians, workers and public employees to unite and join this great strike for education, because this is a discussion in which all of society should give its opinion,� Teachers Union President Jaime Gajardo said.
�We want an education system that guarantees equal, quality education for all,� Gajardo said when announcing the strike. �We don�t want to continue with this neo-liberal model in which families are the only ones responsible for children�s education and those who don�t have money don�t have options.�
The president of the Teachers Union�s Region V chapter, Alfonso Godoy, also was critical of the LGE. �It doesn�t change the character of the state. It doesn�t change the financing system. It doesn�t change the �municipalization� of education,� he told Chilean daily El Mercurio de Valpara�so. He continued that the reform does not combat privatization, profit seeking and �socioeconomic segmentation� in education. �Therefore, it doesn�t solve anything. It�s a step back,� he concluded.
Approximately 5,000 Region V public school teachers are expected to participate in Wednesday�s nationwide strike, El Mercurio de Valpara�so reported on Sunday.
Metropolitan Parents Association President Eduardo Catal�n also expressed support for the strike. �The country�s parents and guardians are going to continue mobilizing,� he said. �On Wednesday, they will answer this call by not sending their children to school� and by contacting schools to express support.
University of Santiago (USACH) Student Federation Vice President Valeria Castillo said students will join the strike as well. �Students will not end mobilizations until the removal of the LGE from Congress and the creation of an entity through which all relevant actors can express their opinions,� she claimed.
On Wednesday, striking teachers, students, parents and guardians will march from different parts of Santiago toward the Plaza de Armas, where they will convene at noon.
Teachers Union leaders will meet today (Monday) and Tuesday with Chile�s National Workers Union (CUT) and National Public Employees Union (ANEF) to discuss support for the strike.
The strike announcement came two days after police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse an anti-LGE student protest in Santiago (ST, May 29).
By Leigh Shadko (editorATsantiagotimes.cl) |
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