Latest news with #VenezuelanFederationofTeachers
South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Venezuelan teachers struggle amid economic crisis
Content provided by British Council [1] With a monthly salary of US$15 (HK$116), a teacher in Venezuela earns nowhere near enough to cover their basic food necessities, never mind rent or medicine. Many in the crisis-stricken South American country are forced to work multiple jobs or pool their money with family. [2] 'For the past two years, the situation has been horrible; you can't even buy shoes,' said 70-year-old Maria Cerezo. Cerezo, who was at a thrift shop in the capital, Caracas, has been a teacher in the public sector for 39 years. She had just selected a blue nylon dress with white polka dots and a price tag of US$2. She hid the garment behind other clothes for sale. 'I'll get it tomorrow, God willing because I don't have the money today,' Cerezo explained. [3] A basket of food essentials for a family of four in Venezuela costs about US$500 a month. This figure is 33 times the salary of a teacher – a profession that has historically been underpaid, but never as little as now. Cerezo's family budget is supported by the salaries of her daughter – also a teacher – and her husband, a lawyer. [4] A public sector teacher's salary is not even among the lowest. The minimum salary in Venezuela today is US$2 a month, which the government supplements with subsidies. Most public schools today operate only two or three days a week so that teachers can work additional jobs. Some give private lessons, others drive taxis or sell crafts. Venezuela's education system has a deficit of 200,000 teachers, according to the government. [5] For those who remain in the profession, there is the El Ropero Solidario thrift store in Caracas. It is run by teacher Kethy Mendoza and supported by the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers. Much of the merchandise comes from educators, who receive half of the sale price of an item of clothing – which they can also opt to donate – while the other half keeps the shop running. [6] 'We are role models for the children,' Mendoza, 64, explained of the endeavour. The project also aims to help teachers in need of medicines, food and emergency hospital care. 'If we go to school poorly dressed because the economic crisis doesn't allow us to buy a change of clothes or decent shoes, how can we expect of the pupils to come dressed properly, presentable?' Source: Agence-France Presse, February 22 Questions 1. According to paragraph 1, what are many teachers forced to do in Venezuela, and why? (2 marks) 2. In paragraph 2, Cerezo hid the dress because she … A. could not afford it. B. did not like it. C. wanted it in a different colour. D. wanted to buy it for someone else. 3. In Venezuela, teachers' salaries used to be … than it is now according to paragraph 3. A. lower B. higher C. about the same D. none of the above 4. In paragraph 4, why don't many children in Venezuela's public schools go to school every day? 5. What does the 'profession' in paragraph 5 refer to? 6. Complete the following summary using the correct forms of the word 'earn'. (3 marks) Teachers in Venezuela (i) __________________ a meagre US$15 every month, which is insufficient for basic needs. They have always been underpaid, but have never (ii) __________________ so little. The situation has become so dire that some of them are (iii) __________________ extra money giving private lessons or driving taxis. El Ropero Solidario offers clothing and accessories priced between US$1 and 4. Photo: AFP Answers 1. They are forced to work multiple jobs, or pool their money with family because they earn nowhere near enough to cover their basic food necessities. 2. A 3. B 4. because the teachers need to work additional jobs on other days to earn more money (accept all similar answers) 5. teacher 6. (i) earn; (ii) earned; (iii) earning
Observer
23-02-2025
- Business
- Observer
On $15 a month, Venezuela's teachers live hand to mouth
Caracas - With a monthly salary of $15, a teacher in Venezuela earns nowhere near enough to cover their basic food necessities, never mind rent or medicine. Many in the crisis-stricken South American country are forced to work multiple jobs, or pool their money with family. Thousands have emigrated in pursuit of greater financial stability. "For the past two years, the situation has been horrible; you can't even buy shoes," 70-year-old Maria Cerezo, who has been a teacher in the public sector for 39 years, told AFP at a thrift shop in the capital Caracas. She had just selected a blue nylon dress with white polka dots -- and a price tag of $2. She hid the garment behind other clothes for sale. "I'll get it tomorrow, God willing, because I don't have the money today," Cerezo explained. She remembers a time when a teacher would buy "clothes, shoes, electrical appliances" with their yearly bonus. Nowadays, "it's not possible." A basket of food essentials for a family of four in Venezuela costs about $500 a month, 33 times the salary of a teacher -- a profession that has historically been underpaid, but never as little as now. Cerezo's family budget is augmented by the salaries of her daughter -- also a teacher -- and her husband, a lawyer. - Role models - An 80-percent drop in GDP over a decade of increasingly repressive rule by President Nicolas Maduro since 2013 has pushed more than eight million Venezuelans -- a quarter of the population -- to seek a better life elsewhere. A public sector teacher's salary is not even among the lowest. The minimum salary in Venezuela today is $2 a month, which the government supplements with subsidies. In the private sector, the average monthly income is about $200. Most public schools today operate only two or three days a week so that teachers can work additional jobs. Some give private lessons, others drive taxis or sell crafts. Venezuela's education system has a deficit of 200,000 teachers, according to the government, and enrolment of student teachers is down nearly 90 percent. For those who remain in the profession, there is the El Ropero Solidario thrift store in Caracas, run by teacher Kethy Mendoza and supported by the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers. Much of the merchandise comes from educators, who receive half of the sale price of an item of clothing -- which they can also opt to donate -- while the other half keeps the shop running. "We are role models for the children," Mendoza, 64, explained of the endeavor, which also aims to help teachers in need of medicines, food and emergency hospital care. "If we go to school poorly dressed because the economic crisis doesn't allow us to buy a change of clothes or decent shoes, how can we expect of the pupils to come dressed properly, presentable?" Maduro, who claimed victory in July 2024 elections that the opposition and much of the international community says he stole, insists low salaries are a consequence of international sanctions. Experts point to economic mismanagement and corruption in the oil-rich former petro state as other factors.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
On $15 a month, Venezuela's teachers live hand to mouth
With a monthly salary of $15, a teacher in Venezuela earns nowhere near enough to cover their basic food necessities, never mind rent or medicine. Many in the crisis-stricken South American country are forced to work multiple jobs, or pool their money with family. Thousands have emigrated in pursuit of greater financial stability. "For the past two years, the situation has been horrible; you can't even buy shoes," 70-year-old Maria Cerezo, who has been a teacher in the public sector for 39 years, told AFP at a thrift shop in the capital Caracas. She had just selected a blue nylon dress with white polka dots -- and a price tag of $2. She hid the garment behind other clothes for sale. "I'll get it tomorrow, God willing, because I don't have the money today," Cerezo explained. She remembers a time when a teacher would buy "clothes, shoes, electrical appliances" with their yearly bonus. Nowadays, "it's not possible." A basket of food essentials for a family of four in Venezuela costs about $500 a month, 33 times the salary of a teacher -- a profession that has historically been underpaid, but never as little as now. Cerezo's family budget is augmented by the salaries of her daughter -- also a teacher -- and her husband, a lawyer. - Role models - An 80-percent drop in GDP over a decade of increasingly repressive rule by President Nicolas Maduro since 2013 has pushed more than eight million Venezuelans -- a quarter of the population -- to seek a better life elsewhere. A public sector teacher's salary is not even among the lowest. The minimum salary in Venezuela today is $2 a month, which the government supplements with subsidies. In the private sector, the average monthly income is about $200. Most public schools today operate only two or three days a week so that teachers can work additional jobs. Some give private lessons, others drive taxis or sell crafts. Venezuela's education system has a deficit of 200,000 teachers, according to the government, and enrolment of student teachers is down nearly 90 percent. For those who remain in the profession, there is the El Ropero Solidario thrift store in Caracas, run by teacher Kethy Mendoza and supported by the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers. Much of the merchandise comes from educators, who receive half of the sale price of an item of clothing -- which they can also opt to donate -- while the other half keeps the shop running. "We are role models for the children," Mendoza, 64, explained of the endeavor, which also aims to help teachers in need of medicines, food and emergency hospital care. "If we go to school poorly dressed because the economic crisis doesn't allow us to buy a change of clothes or decent shoes, how can we expect of the pupils to come dressed properly, presentable?" Maduro, who claimed victory in July 2024 elections that the opposition and much of the international community says he stole, insists low salaries are a consequence of international sanctions. Experts point to economic mismanagement and corruption in the oil-rich former petro state as other factors. str-jt/mbj/lbc/mlr/mlm Sign in to access your portfolio
