Bolivian teachers launch national strike against education reforms

The Confederation of Urban Education Workers of Bolivia (CTEUB) has initiated a 24-hour national strike and mobilized protests across several cities, including La Paz, Cochabamba, Sucre, and Santa Cruz. The teachers are protesting against government plans to decentralize technical education, which would transfer the administration of institutes from the Ministry of Education to regional governments and municipalities.

Union leaders argue that this reform aims to weaken labor unity and pave the way for the privatization of education. In Sucre, the protest led to confrontations with police, who used chemical agents to clear roadblocks, resulting in reports of teachers being detained.

In addition to education reforms, the protesters are demanding salary increases to combat a severe economic crisis fueled by recent cuts to fuel subsidies. While the government attempted to convene a dialogue, union leadership rejected the meetings, opting instead for continued mobilization and roadblocks.