The Technical Vice Minister of Education, Francisco Cabrerainformed that the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has received a growing number of complaints from teachers who claim to have been victims of Threats, pressures and harassment to participate in permanent assemblies promoted by the Guatemala (Steg) education workers union.
“Only last Tuesday we received more than 50 complaints through that line,” he said. Complaints include cases that supposedly members of the union forced teachers to attend meetings or closed educational centers to force their participation.
“They tell us: ‘In my school a person of the union came and he is threatening us’, or ‘The director closed the school so that we went to the assembly'”Cabrera said.
During a press conference, Cabrera said the Mineduc enabled the telephone number 1503 to receive complaints of that type. He added that these complaints are also received by other ways, such as messages on social networks and WhatsApp.
The vice minister stressed that, although these situations are not new, the recent increase in reports led the ministry to carefully document each case to apply the corresponding measures.
As he explained, if the absences are not justified, administrative sanctions will be applied. In cases of threats or harassment, they will be transferred to the competent institutions for a possible criminal investigation.
Cabrera reiterated that participation in union assemblies is not mandatory and that no teacher must be forced to attend. “What corresponds is respect for the right to education of students”he stressed.
Also read: Collective Pact: The three themes on which Steg makes decisions within the MINEDUC
Monitor school closures
Despite the complaints, the official stressed that “More than 80% of educational centers are working normally” And he thanked teachers who continue to fulfill their responsibilities.
“That is corresponding to students, communities and the country,” he said.
The Mineduc is preparing a record of the centers that are not operating, in order to take corrective actions. “We started by documenting those closures and then progressing to individual measures,” he said.
Negotiation remains active
Cabrera also clarified that negotiations with the STEG have not been interrupted. “Yesterday was held number 45 of the negotiation process of the collective pact,” he said, contradicting versions that claim that there is no dialogue.
Finally, he reiterated that any demonstration must respect the right of students to receive classes.
“The last manifestations we saw were quite poor. If they wanthe concluded.
Union maintains posture
In a statement published on May 19, the STEG criticized Minister Anabella Giracca, accused the Mineduc of minimizing her actions and denied that the protests have been minimal.
He also dismissed the official videos and assured that “most of the teaching staff declared in permanent assemblies.”