Morenoist proposal in response to teacher strikes
The local representative of Morena, María Eulalia Velasco Ramírez, presented an initiative to reform the Oaxaca Education Law. Their objective: to force the state government to hire substitute teachers during teacher strikes.
The legislator seeks to provide continuity to the educational service. To this end, it proposes immediate response mechanisms in the event of any suspension of teaching activities. The proposal now remains in the hands of the local Congress.
The reality of the protests in the state
Every year, Section 22 of the SNTE carries out staggered strikes as part of its union pressure strategy. In 2024, the protests lasted a month and mainly affected basic education schools. It is not the only union: there are also recurring strikes at the “Benito Juárez” Autonomous University of Oaxaca (UABJO) and other high school campuses.
Velasco Ramírez —mother of the Secretary of Tourism, Saymi Pineda— maintains that her initiative protects the right to education under the principle of the best interests of children. According to the representative, the most vulnerable students are the ones who suffer the most from suspensions.
Measures that the IEEPO would authorize
The reform empowers the State Institute of Public Education of Oaxaca (IEEPO) to take administrative, academic and extraordinary measures when the service is interrupted due to the unjustified absence of teaching staff. Among the permitted actions are: immediately designate substitute staff, enable alternative in-person care locations in nearby facilities, or implement academic strategies to avoid the loss of the school year.
The initiative emphasizes social justice for rural, indigenous communities or areas without internet access. In these cases, the educational authority must always prioritize the in-person modality to guarantee learning.