Catherwood LibraryILR School

Mexico’s most prominent teachers’ union, the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE), is remaining steadfast in its fight against the national government’s proposed education reform. In light of fatal bouts of violence that have taken place in encounters between state and federal police with CNTE protestors and massive CNTE blockades that have led to Mexico’s poorest states facing food shortage crises, the teachers and other professionals within the union refuse to budge on this issue. The proposed reform calls for the administration of a test every three years to every Mexican teacher and the CNTE alleges that this test does not account for the different needs and resources present in rural Mexican schools and that it will unfairly punish teachers in these areas. While Mexico has dire educational needs that the government is seeking to address, the CNTE remains confident that these reforms are not the answer.