Venezuela education sector faces calendar disputes and high supply costs

In Venezuela, the upcoming 2026-2027 school year is facing challenges regarding administrative scheduling and economic pressures on families. The labor union Sintraenseñanza in Mérida has called on Education Minister Héctor Rodríguez to halt unilateral changes to the academic calendar. The union argues that modifying the start date violates Article 54 of the Organic Law of Education, which mandates the first administrative period begin in the second half of September, and claims the move infringes upon the vacation rights of both workers and students.

Simultaneously, families in Caracas are struggling with the high cost of school supplies. To manage expenses, parents are increasingly turning to alternatives such as purchasing used books, buying pre-packaged school combos, and utilizing credit applications. Merchants have responded to the economic strain by creating basic bundles for primary and preschool students to help lower total costs for consumers.