Chilpancingo, Guerrero • In the context of threats [by the dissident teachers group], a coalition of uncertain forces and questions about its legal viability, this Thursday the full state Congress will debate the proposed amendments to the General Education Act of Guerrero.
On Tuesday night, the leadership of the CETEG [State Coordinating Committee of Education Workers of Guerrero] declared that state and federal government officials had put pressure on the congressional committees responsible for preparing the bill to be presented today.
On Wednesday morning, the leader of the Coordinating Committee, Gonzalo Juárez, said the initiative was in danger of modifications on two important points: the creation of a Guerrero institute for evaluation of teachers and the scheme for assigning teaching positions. He warned that if this happens, the teacher protests will move to an intense level. During the last few days their protests were eased in order to allow development of the work being undertaken in the local [state] Congress.
Although the CETEG has a massive march scheduled for today, Thursday, Juárez said that the contingent will not go to the Congress in order to provide an opportunity for deputies to hold their session freely, without pressure from the teachers.
Questioned about whether there was outside pressure, the president of the Education Committee, Victor Salinas Salas, denied pressure from outsiders on the joint committees.
"We do our work as it should be done and don't feel any pressure. We wouldn't allow it," he said.With regard to whether changes might occur in the bill, he said that it is still unclear what adjustments a proposal might have, especially when there has already been a discussion and any changes would have to be made during the session.
Jesús Marcial Liborio, a member of the Education Committee, said that changes might be made to the legislation, but he also maintained that it is necessary to comply with the teachers' proposals without colliding with provisions of the federal law. ... Spanish original