Venezuela school reopening faces infrastructure and wage way

The Venezuelan education sector continues to face significant administrative, economic, and infrastructural challenges as the 2025-2026 school year approaches on September 14.

Education Minister Héctor Rodríguez has announced plans to accommodate over 7 million students by opening 5,000 new classrooms and implementing double shifts. Regarding recent seismic activity, the government stated that while 900 schools were affected by earthquakes in June, most are undergoing repairs or students are being relocated to nearby facilities.

However, the Federación Venezolana de Maestros (FVM), led by Carmen Teresa Márquez, has denounced the state of school infrastructure as precarious, citing a persistent lack of water, electricity, and sanitation. The union is demanding technical inspections to ensure safety following the earthquakes and is calling for the resumption of collective bargaining negotiations.

Economic tensions remain acute. The Ministry issued a start-of-class bonus of 12.50 bolívares (approximately 1.5 cents USD), which educators criticized as insufficient. Furthermore, political leaders have warned that high inflation makes the cost of uniforms and supplies—estimated between $150 and $300 per student—nearly impossible for many families to afford.