They propose reforms in the law to dignify the teaching profession; STEG opposes

The discussion on salary improvements for teachers is transferred to Congress within the framework of the analysis to reform the Law of Dignification and Cataloging of Teachers, in force for 64 years.

The updating of the law in the face of the current needs of teachers is discussed in a technical table with different actors. However, the changes have not been well received by the Guatemalan Education Workers Union (STEG).

The Education, Science and Technology Commission of Congress convened representatives of the Ministry of Education (Mineduc), civil society and teacher unions to address the reforms, on April 29. During the meeting it was indicated that the regulations regulate the evaluative classification of labor rights, the ranking and labor relations between the State and teachers, with the aim of seeking their economic, social and cultural dignity.

The law consists of 63 itemsgrouped into 11 chapters. Although section 3 talks about “improving teaching”, only one 5% of the articles refer to dignity of the teachers, since the majority is focused on cataloging and classification; Its approach is more administrative, as stated at the technical table.

In this regard, the chapter referring to training and leveling is made up of five articles, but only three address the issue of training and education.

On the other hand, article 51 refers to the points that teachers receive from the qualifying board for time of service, improvement, special merits and extra charge service for promotion. However, it was questioned whether the years of work that teachers complete are more important than the teaching qualitywhich should be considered in the evaluation.

Without establishing a position of the Mineduc, but rather to contribute to the discussion, Carlos Aldana, vice minister of Extracurricular Education, pointed out that dignity depends on five factors:

• Continuous training
• Economic improvements
• Defense of rights, along with duties
• Provision of resources for the teacher to carry out their work
• Seek possibilities for insertion into the community.

He considered that some of these points remain to be addressed in Decree 1485, in addition to the need to update the academic profiles at the different educational levels and implement mechanisms to sanction those who violate the protection of children and adolescents.

The analysis of the proposals for changes to decree 1485 will be extended until June 5 at the technical table, so that later the Education, Science and Technology Commission will present an initiative for legal reforms.

Deputy Mario Velásquez, president of the Congressional Education Commission, pointed out that the last modification made to the decree was in 2000, and now a transformation is being addressed in key points focused on the dignity of teachers, directors, supervisors and administrative staff.

The aim is to promote the training and training of teachers, but also to improve the economic conditions of those who manage to improve academically in favor of educational quality, said the legislator.

One of the articles that is analyzed is 4 (cataloging classes), in which one more step would be included: now it is from A to F and The G would be added, so that the teacher has a 150% ranking on the base salary.

It also seeks to modify the paragraphs 28 (points for promotion between classes) and 53 (basic salaries, leveling and economic increase in proportion to the cost of living).

Yovani Tecún Ordóñez, general secretary of the Teachers’ Union of the Department of Guatemala (SMG), an organization that participates in the discussion, pointed out that those related to opposition juries and calls are also being weighed, in which the STEG has had influence, and that is why its rejection of the reforms to Decree 1485.

Opposition

Through a statement published on its social networks on May 1, the STEG indicated that the modifications to Decree 1485 are being worked on in “conspiracy” with unions that do not have representation and that the changes would be “at the taste and whim” of said groups, so is against.

“They disagree because that has been their workhorse. If the government manages to establish decent salaries for the teaching profession and improve the conditions related to the academic improvement of the teacher, and that entails an economic improvement, they will run out of their gold mine, because under what argument would they take the teaching profession to the streets,” said Tecún Ordóñez.

Velásquez also sees resistance on the part of the STEG to reform Decree 1485, and affirms that they have misinformed the educational community by saying that the modifications will affect the passive classes law, which, he assures, is far from the intention of dignifying teachers.

The union led by Acevedo also does not support the initiative 6591which seeks to transfer teachers hired in line 021 to permanent positions, with the intention of giving them job stability.

Deputy José Chic, speaker of the initiative, indicated that, if approved, would reach about 40 thousand teachers pre-primary, primary, basic and diversified, so that they have the same benefits as workers in line 011.

The STEG, in a statement dated April 18, indicated that the offer of transfers arises from politicians with the intention of achieve “returns” for re-electionand that these changes must go through a call process, since not doing so would be “blatantly violating the opposition process”, in addition to violating Decree 1485, the National Education Law and the collective agreement on working conditions – the one approved in 2022 is in force.

The union’s position surprises the deputy, as he assured that the initiative benefits teachers who have worked for years in the educational system without job stability, which is why he sees “double speech” on the part of the group led by Joviel Acevedo.

The Mineduc also carries out processes so that secondary teachers hired under line 021 are incorporated into 011.