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Educators Demand Remote Work Option Due to Safety Risks
Teachers in Villa Juárez, Navolato, are voicing serious concerns about their safety adn are advocating for the continuation of remote teaching methods. This comes amidst escalating violence in the region, prompting educators to question the Ministry of Public education and Culture’s (Sepyc) decision to summon them back to in-person meetings and classroom instruction.
The Human Cost: “Our Lives Matter”
Professor Gloria Bastidas,a long-time educator in Villa Juárez,poignantly expressed the core of the teachers’ anxieties:
If something happens to us,we are replaced in a minute in schools,but at home,no one can replace us. There are sons, daughters, wives… there is a family that awaits us every day.
Professor Gloria Bastidas, Villa Juárez
This sentiment underscores the teachers’ belief that their well-being is being overlooked in the push for in-person education. The emotional toll of commuting and working in an area plagued by violence is important, impacting not only the teachers but also their families.
Broken Agreements and Shifting Directives
The teachers’ protest at the Sepyc facilities stems from what they perceive as a breach of faith. According to reports, an agreement was previously reached to allow teachers to work remotely for two Sezal per line
due to the prevailing security conditions. However, educators claim they received a late-night message summoning them to an in-person meeting with the head of Sepyc in Villa Juárez, a directive that many found unacceptable, especially those commuting from Culiacán.
The situation is further intricate by recent violent incidents in navolato. Despite these events, educational authorities are reportedly insisting on teachers being physically present in classrooms. This decision has been met with resistance, as educators feel their safety is being compromised.
Seeking Solutions, Not Abandonment
Teachers emphasize that they are not seeking to abandon their responsibilities. Instead, they are advocating for the continuation of online teaching, even tho it presents its own challenges. As one English teacher from ETI 85 and 51 high school noted, remote instruction requires more administrative work, as authorities demand evidence of their ongoing efforts.
Student Absences Reflect Widespread Fear
The climate of fear extends beyond the teaching staff. teacher Martín Cuadras highlighted that many students have stopped attending school due to safety concerns. there are some of our students who send us messages and tell us that they will not go to classes, because they are afraid or because they left their home,
he stated, illustrating the profound impact of the violence on the community’s educational landscape.
Balancing Education and Safety: A Call for Action
The teachers’ protest underscores the urgent need for a balanced approach that prioritizes both education and safety. As Martín Cuadras aptly put it, We are valuing the right to education, but we also ask that they value our lives.
The situation in navolato serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by educators in conflict-affected areas and the importance of finding enduring solutions that protect both teachers and students.
