AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Bishops appeal: Teachers have been on strike for one month: "It is time to listen to each other"

Friday, 16 June 2017 politics   education   episcopal conferences  

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Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) - Colombia's Bishops call for "peaceful and open dialogue" to overcome the teacher’s, who have been on strike for a month. In a statement sent to Fides on June 15, the Colombian Bishops' Conference (CEC) expresses its concern due to the unresolved situation of teachers which creates a "true educational emergency" in the country.
"The Church has always taught and defended the value and the educational task in the lives of people and societies", says the CEC, that is why "we invite you to do what is necessary to foster peaceful dialogue between Government and teachers, in order to reach a fair agreement that responds to the reality of the country".
"There is also a need to consider the great challenges for education in Colombia ... It is time to listen to each other. Dialogue focused on the common good, respect and understanding, even more so in the case of such an important issue like education, is the way out of this emergency", concludes the text.
Yesterday, in addition to the strike in schools, there was an unplanned demonstration by hundreds of teachers who blocked one of the main streets of the capital to draw the attention of public opinion. Teachers ask the government more resources for public education in the country and a salary like that of other state workers. The government, through President Juan Manuel Santos and its ministers, insisted that there are no resources to meet these demands. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 16/06/2017)


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