Versión Español
EspañolThe teacher strike in Peru has lasted more than 40 days, affecting students in public schools more than anyone else. An absence of teachers has led to a migration of students from public to private schools systems, which in turn has forced various schools to prepare for the influx.
Administrators at the Saco Oliveros schools in Peru decided to enroll new students, discounting US $30 on tuition for those coming from state schools in both the morning and afternoon, according to President of the schools, Wilmer Carrasco.
The schools will provide some free classes for students coming from public institutions, as well as implement virtual courses with multimedia material so that students can make up for lost time.
The Saco Olivero schools have 21,000 students and 1,300 teachers in 37 educational centers. However, the school system is not the only one preparing for a possible mass migration. The Innova School system is also planning to expand by opening up eight new schools next year, which could amount to a total of 49 new institutions nationwide, with more than 30,000 enrollees.
The teacher strike comes in response to unfair job evaluation methods and low pay, according to education leaders. They have said they want to discuss negotiations with officials, but their relationship has been rocky. Meetings have been canceled on more than one occasion, and the government has moved to hiring substitutes.
However, Minister of Education Marilú Martens said some teachers are already returning to their classrooms.
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“What we are seeing is a very slow trend, but there are already regions such as Arequipa, Piura, La Libertad where classes have resumed,” he said.
Martens said officials have already begun “taking action” to prevent students from failing the school year.
