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Salary Increases Pit Teachers Against Parents

Posted: Nate on May 20 | Education & Youth, Politics

After weeks of sporadic teacher strikes protesting what they say was an insufficient salary increase, parents of students in six macro-districts of La Paz, Max Paredes, Periférica, Zona Sur, Centro, Cotahuma, and San Antonio, took to the streets yesterday in a counter-protest. The parents are protesting the teachers strike and are demanding that teachers return to their classrooms or change the teaching profession from a state-supported position to a market-funded model. Parents from the six districts marched in several areas of the city, shutting down traffic in areas throughout the city. In the march of one district a rumor spread among the protesters of an idea to burn the houses of three prominent education directors for “being the most Trotsky-ite.”

The teachers for their part, have been protesting a 5% salary increase which they say should be a 12% increase from their current salaries. Government officials have invited education leaders to discuss their positions despite having already passed the 5% raise. José Luis Álvarez, director of a teachers´ union, said that he would not attend the talks because the government is only looking for a confrontation.

At 11:00 today the competing marches of the teachers and parents confronted one another outside the teachers´ Social House. In addition to exchanging verbal threats and taunts, one teacher is reportedly injured after a rock struck her in the head. The two groups were eventually dispersed with tear gas after a police unit arrived.

The Minister of Education, in a statement to parents, announced that the teachers would not be compensated for the strike days and that that money would instead be used to improve school infrastructure. Similar strikes and marches have been held throughout the country and parent and teacher organizations continued to announce march plans today.

For more in Spanish see:

http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/20-05-10/noticias.php?nota=20_05_10_socd1.php

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