Mexico: Teachers Hold Strike As Students Return to Class

Around 800 schoolteachers from the Mexican State of Guerrero launched a 48-hour strike, as 26 million students throughout the country are scheduled to return to the classroom on Monday.   

The Guerrero State Education Teachers Union (CETEG) is demanding the immediate repeal Mexico’s Education Reform law, which introduced teachers evaluations tests that professors argue will be used as an excuse for mass layoffs of its members. 

In an interview with the local Mexican radio station Grupo Imagen, CETEG’s National Director Ramos Reyes Guerrero stated, “If there was total support for teachers on a national level we would not be doing these protests.”

Reyes went on to add that demonstrations are also planned to take place in different regions throughout the country. 

Meanwhile, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto hosted a ceremony in the state of Guerrero marking the start of classes for students throughout the country.  

During his speech, Peña Nieto defended his national education reform policy stating, “the education reform continues in its course to benefit all Mexican children.” 

However, critics of the education reform argue that linking the outcome of teacher assessments with teachers’ salary levels and job security would force teachers to concentrate more on passing the evaluation tests rather than on improving the quality of their teaching.

The education reform, which was partially introduced in 2014, included a constitutional change to create an autonomous teacher assessment body, the National Education Evaluation Institute. However, those in opposition to the reforms say the national body should not be applying a one-rule-fits-all approach.    

Under the education reform law, the changes thus far have focused on moving towards a national curriculum, and guaranteeing greater equality of access to schooling.