Latest news on education
Mexican teachers clash with
police over education reform
12 September 2013 Last updated at 02:31
Mexican teachers have clashed with the
police, as their latest protest against
education reforms brought traffic in
Mexico City to a standstill.
Similar protests took place across the
country on Wednesday, a day after
President Enrique Pena Nieto's final
approval of the reform.
Mexican teachers have been protesting for
months against the reforms, which angered
the country's powerful unions.
Among the changes being introduced are
performance-related tests for teachers.
Critics accuse Mexico's teachers' unions of
being corrupt and having too much control
over job allocation.
Clashes erupted on Wednesday as the
protesters tried to force their way on to the
main road to the city's airport.
'Snub'
The teachers marched to President Enrique
Pena Nieto's official residence and office,
Los Pinos, but were received only by his
aides.
Angered by what they considered a snub,
they tried to block two of Mexico City's
main roads which sparked the clashes.
There were also protests in more than 10
Mexican states, such as Guerrero,
Aguascalientes, Michoacan and Tabasco.
The reforms have been opposed by a
teachers' union, the National Education
Workers' Co-ordinator (CNTE), which says
they will lead to mass lay-offs.
Last week, thousands of its members
protested outside the Senate in an attempt
to disrupt the passing of the bill, which had
already been approved by the Chamber of
Deputies.
The government has argued that union
control over teaching jobs has contributed
to corruption, which has seen poorly
trained teachers promoted over more
qualified colleagues.
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