Comments on: Educators to begin massive, “indefinite” strike; ask parents to keep children home

By: Canamjay

Canamjay — Tue, 06 May 2014 18:37:00 +0000

My extended middle class Tico family includes many teachers; several
with advanced degrees earned by great personal sacrifice. The disrespect
shown for teachers in many US districts (AND Canadian) and increasingly in CR is
disgusting and if not curbed, will show in the economy big time; just
look at the sinking results of the US education system as compared with
smarter countries around the world. Education is the foundation upon
which every country builds its future and any country which does not act
accordingly is doomed. some of my family have not been paid accurately since January.. they have kids and many obligations of their own. Solis is coming into office at a very difficult time, and while I am gratified he ‘supports’ the teachers… I can only imagine the financial mess he is faced with and hope he has the strength to prevail.

By: Lav

Lav — Tue, 06 May 2014 16:13:00 +0000

Well if the constant texts from GOLLO to Carlos on my pay as you go ICE number are any indication… There are some Ticos who take out loans and don’t pay them back…

By: disgusted

disgusted — Tue, 06 May 2014 13:44:00 +0000

Embarrassed! really. I do not know of any Tico I know who ask for a loan then “”Forget” to pay it back, embarrassed! Just like the government here as well. My comment may seem out of line .. I woke up grumpy today.

By: Lav

Lav — Tue, 06 May 2014 13:17:00 +0000

I think you are right, sadly. CAJA is broke, the education system is broke, and most middle income earners are relying on credit to survive.

By: Ken Morris

Ken Morris — Tue, 06 May 2014 02:13:00 +0000

I have no idea. In the one case I know of, it was I think part of her pay. In the other case, which I only know via hearsay, my impression was that it was all of the pay. My sense is that the ministry is just slow to make any change, like paying a new hire or paying someone who moves from part- to full-time. Maybe those who are already on the books have no problems (and maybe some of those continue getting paychecks long after they’re dead). Anyway, my guess is that those caught in the glitch have probably had a recent change in assignment of some kind, but I’m guessing.

By: disgusted

disgusted — Mon, 05 May 2014 21:10:00 +0000

Children education has not/nor never been a priority here. My friend son say every other day a different teacher or just a no show where he goes. Whether or not they get the 5% raise like the top administrators instead of the 2% offered. The kids here get short changed.

By: DaveP

DaveP — Mon, 05 May 2014 19:41:00 +0000

I’ve heard conflicting reports from various Ticos today, but they all seem to say its just part of their pay that is missing, not as this article and comments imply, ‘no pay for months.’ Able to clarify?

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:55:00 +0000

The goverment hasn´t paid any school staff for months and PAC has no money the country is broke. Clue in everyone the ship is sinking. Teachers are just the start. Get ready for the next thing to drop. If i was in this union i would be fighting in the streets. My friend is a teacher and says goverment has not payed her in four months. Its time to fight.

By: expatin paradise

expatin paradise — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:46:00 +0000

Isn’t the government in violation of its own labor laws by failing to pay these salaries? Wouldn’t a private employer face serious legal consequences for acting so irresponsibly? If the salaries aren’t being paid, we can be sure that they aren’t paying the caja, either. Why hasn’t the minister of education been brought up on charges, or at least hanged in effigy? I’m not buying the story of a payroll glitch as an excuse for more than a few days’ delay. If necessary, the government should be rolling up to every school in an armored car and paying teachers in cash and getting receipts to get this problem under control.

While I sympathize with the school employees, I am concerned about the children. Where my children go to (public) school, classes are cancelled or hours are cut at least one day per week on average, generally because the teachers and/or the director are attending “reuniones.” One of my kids’ teachers didn’t show up today. The kids are being short-changed on their educations, and the teachers and director don’t seem very concerned. When I contacted the office of the Ministry to inquire why the law on minimum number of class days was being ignored, I was told that they have no real authority outside the GMA (it isn’t as if I am in the boonies – I can see the national stadium from here).

There would be more support for the public school teachers if they provided more support for the children. Of course, if the wealthy didn’t send their kids to private school, there would be much more support for public schools. It is bad enough that the public schools are far from free – between uniforms, the mandatory list of materials, fees for fiestas, and exam fees, it would not be possible for many Ticos to send their kids to school. I’m sure that many kids are kept home because of the expense. Costa Rica likes to brag about its education system, so it should do something for those bragging rights. The government should start by paying the people who work in the system.

By: roberto

roberto — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:46:00 +0000

The students! The children also suffer. I dropped my 2 sons off at their high school this morning at 7am, they both had chemistry tests and had studied all weekend, and I got a call at 7:25 to come and pick them up….no classes, no exams, nothing. No information except that they ‘probably ‘ won’t have any classes this week. Apparently the students get information and “notices” from the high school via Facebook. OMG. So now I hear, “c’mon Dad, put us in a private school.” Like I have an extra $1500 a month for that.