16 May 2012
Teachers here in Alicante are still fighting for an end to the cuts being made in education. Today, the teachers held the first of six days of strike this month.
In the fall, it was first announced that the teachers wages would be cut. Teacher's salaries are going to be cut by approximately 200 euros a month. They have to work more (since class sizes are also increasing) but get paid less. The government is also essentially freezing salaries. Before, teachers could take enrichment classes and attend conferences in order to eventually get a raise.
Considering teachers make around 1800 euros a month, this is a significant cut. In order to protest these cuts, in the fall, teachers decided to stop offer extra services such as field trips (with the exception of the trips at the end of the cycle). Parents were upset by this and (at least some) started to also participate in the teachers' weekly protests.
Since nothing has come out of these measures, the teachers decided to step it up and begin striking. Not all of the teachers are striking each of these days--since the will lose 200 euros from their salaries for each day that they strike! Today, around half of the teachers were out on strike and most of the teachers who did come to school were only offering minimal services (aka the kids played on the playground all day).
We'll see if these strikes have the desired effect.
More than anything, I feel bad for the kids. They are the innocent victims in this whole tragedy. I understand that the teachers are unhappy about the cuts--I would be too. Unfortunately, the Valencian government just doesn't have any money and so money has to be cut somewhere. I'm not saying it should come from education. In fact, I think that education and health care are the last two places cuts should ever be made.
However, it's the kids who are losing out on activities and class days.
No comments:
Post a Comment