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| Dissident Teachers Meet to Discuss Next Steps (Photo: Francisco Olvera) |
La Jornada: Laura Poy Solano
In representative assembly, leaders of the National Coordinating Committee of Education Workers (CNTE) initiated a discussion about the second stage of their protests, which includes, among other issues, the debate to declare an eventual "indefinite work stoppage", and "to establish a clear political direction in order to defend public education."
The majority of the mobilized members "favored putting first" dialogues with parents and students, to whom
"we must explain why we are back on the streets and that this struggle is not only to preserve acquired rights, but in order that the State may not abandon its responsibility to fund the public schools and that it not be those who contribute most who are required to maintain the education system."Leaders of the dissident teachers of Chiapas, Mexico City, the state of Mexico and Jalisco stated that rejection of the education reform promoted by President Enrique Peña Nieto
"is growing across the country", and they did not rule out that "if the federal government's obstinacy continues and it seeks imposition, at any cost, of the amendments to Articles 3 and 73 of the Constitution, we will promote actions of protest, despite the threats of layoffs."
They added that one of the issues that the CNTE is analyzing regarding the constitutional reform is "to drive our alternate education proposal", which includes at least twenty proposals that seek to guarantee better [working] conditions (equipment and infrastructure) and access to high-quality, relevant teacher training.
They explained that with this objective, they will convene meetings with state education specialists:
They explained that with this objective, they will convene meetings with state education specialists:
"to shape the initiatives we that have been working on, because the democratic teachers want better schools, where there is no lack of water or electricity, where they can rely on having blackboards and chair desks, and that teacher job uncertainty may be banished from public schools," stated Adelfo Alejandro Gómez, general secretary of the Section 7 dissident teachers of Chiapas.Francisco Bravo, head of the Federal District [Mexico City] teachers, pointed out that without a State educational project, the implementation of the constitutional reform "is doomed to failure". He added:
"We have insisted (to the federal government) that it cannot transform the national education system without the participation of the teachers, and this includes seeking their intervention in the process, and not just as a spectator or executor of decisions that have already been agreed from the political leadership."The meeting, which began before 10:00 PM and had not ended at press time, was attended by leaders from Michoacán, Jalisco, Chiapas, Mexico City and the state of Mexico. They analyzed whether they will push for an indefinite work stoppage from April 15 to April 19, then they considered that
"so far there are no signs that the federal and state authorities are committed to a serious dialogue that would allow us to achieve an immediate solution," said Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, leader of Section 36 of the democratic movement.The Peña Nieto administration, they affirmed:
"seeks by every means to impose its education reform and even encouraged a media campaign to attack the protesting teachers."
It noted that one of the priorities, after the return to school, is
"to return to talk to the student community. We need your support, but above all that you may join the struggle for the defense of the public school."