“If teachers have problems with the Government, it should not be at the expense of the children’s right to be educated. They can protest, but should not sacrifice the boys and girls. We have to defend that right,” President Lobo stated in a press conference.
He said that in this situation, he “can not sit idly by,” and that, “I told the Minister that we would ensure that if there is a college, or a school where teachers do not want to hold classes, we must send a teacher to that class, and if there is a school where the students will be accompanying the teachers strike, it has to be closed.”
“It hurts the president that the children are not in school, but it must really hurt the father and mother,” he stated.
Lobo defends the Government’s decision not to pay teachers for the days not worked. “That’s nonnegotiable,” he said.
He reiterated that the Government’s commitment is to respect the Teachers’ Statute, “and I will keep my promise to do so. The statute does not have to be touched.” But, he added, the teachers must move back to the communities to participate in the educational process of the children.
He noted that countries that have risen have a foundation in education. “If our young people have no access to education, we would be condemning them to live in poverty.”
He also said that the government is wanting to find a solution to the problems with the Institute for Teachers (INPREMA).
“We want to help, and invite a dialogue to see how we can help. Yesterday, we spent three hours waiting, but they would not talk, and I’m totally open to talking, I’m totally open to that,” he said.
He also announced that his government will help farmers in the Lower Aguán to create self-managed schools, in which they recruit teachers, monitor the process, and are very happy to do so.
2 Responses to "Honduran President Asks for Temporary Teachers"
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It is a known fact that the Honduran Government is corrupt and that corruption is a poor example to all of the Honduran people. The government receives millions of dollars in aid from the US and China and the money never seems to find its way to the most crucial element of the future development of Honduras which is education. The teachers like all Hondurans are only offered a sub subsistent salary. The US has had its hand in maintaining wages at sub poverty levels since Chita and Dole began their business in Honduras. If the US doesn’t want to see the minimum wage increased the minimum wage will never be increased along with the minimal pay given to teachers.
Teachers should be given the consideration that they deserve as the first rung on the socio economic path for the future development needed by Honduranians which 40% or more of the population are considered non literate. Once the Government which is more interested with lining its leader’s pockets awakens to the need of the the Honduran people, especially the children, only then will money be available to begin the radical changes needed for Honduras.
Well said Mr. President!!!
It was time that somebody decided to wake up to that reality, bad educators can only provide their pupils with bad education.
If they can’t (or won’t) feel the love that they should have for the kids at their care, they should be replaced.
The kids deserve a chance at having a better life than the one their parents had, and education is one of the corner stones of that base where all future oportunities rest on.
Substitute teachers, yes.
Striking teachers that wont teach, !!