Uruguay
Teaching unions question the virtual format ordered by the CFE in occupied centers
The union coordinator said the resolution was untimely and illegal and called for it to be reviewed. Meanwhile, the teachers' union for Teacher Education resolved a 48-hour strike.
The Council for Teacher Education of ANEP resolved on Friday to exceptionally authorize, for this school year, the virtual delivery of courses while the centers and institutes where in-person activities cannot be carried out because of occupations are unavailable, according to La Diaria.
The measure provides for adjustments to content and methodologies in annual curricular units in the second semester and the holding of synchronous virtual sessions at the times scheduled for in-person classes, with the possibility of shortening class duration and complementing them with asynchronous assignments.
After an urgent meeting this Sunday, the Coordinating Committee of Teaching Unions of Uruguay said the decision came as an “unpleasant surprise.” Its coordinator, José Olivera, said at a press conference that the resolution was adopted amid a process of seeking negotiated solutions with the student movement, which is maintaining occupations in rejection of a degree proposal formulated unilaterally by Codicen, according to La Diaria.
Olivera also said the resolution is “illegal” because, he argued, it changes working conditions that should go through collective bargaining, in reference to Law 18.508. In that context, CSEU called for the measure to be reviewed quickly and asked for the intervention of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, La Diaria reported.
The union leader also said that Codicen, which he held responsible together with the CFE, instead of easing the conflict ended up worsening it by moving ahead unilaterally. He also noted that teachers had chosen courses in in-person format and planned under those conditions, and that they are now being required to work virtually.
According to La Diaria, the Teachers’ Union of Teacher Education resolved on Saturday to call an initial 48-hour strike in rejection of the resolution. Later, CSEU issued a statement saying it will remain in permanent session and will put before its national organizations the adoption of new protest measures no later than Tuesday, September 15.
The teacher representative on the CFE, Gabriela Rico, said on her part that she did not take part in the session in which the resolution was approved and that she is “absolutely against” that decision. In a statement, she added that the measure affects teachers’ working conditions and the process of dialogue with students, and attributed the urgency in handling the issue to a new intervention by Codicen, always according to La Diaria.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do any original reporting on this event.
