No walk, more talk, Chamber tells teachers

PANAMA’S Chamber of Commerce has called for more dialogue and on Sunday, July 17, rejected the call for a teachers’ strike made by teachers unions for Monday.

“The call to strike that took place while delicate negotiations between teachers unions and authorities was taking place is far from the actions that are needed to make the profound changes that the educational system requires,” said the organization.

“We appeal to the commitment of those who have the mission of educating, that they should always resort to dialogue and not to undermining the future of students who face an increasingly demanding and competitive job market,” it said.

The chamber also urged both sides to work on a roadmap that would lead to administrative directors of schools and regional authorities have greater autonomy.

“We all agree that, given decades of backwardness, it is urgent to modernize education at all levels,” it said.

Despite the strike threat, the Ministry of Education has said that Monday is a normal day of classes in all schools and it urged teachers to ignore the strike reports La Prensa.