2013 school year: Classes begin only in 8 provinces

February 25, 2013
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The 2013 school year will start on Monday marked by empty classrooms in most of the 24 provinces of the country, due to strike by teachers unions after wage increases disagreement.

Only in eight provinces, classes begin on Monday according to the timetable established in the school calendar this year, which aims to reach 190 days of school, equal to last year.

At least 15 provinces (Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Cordoba, Mendoza, Neuquén, Black River, Chubut, Santa Cruz, San Juan, Catamarca, Tucumán, Corrientes, Santiago del Estero, Entre Rios and La Pampa) will be affected by unions’ strikes.

In the city of Buenos Aires, the start of the school year is scheduled for next Wednesday, but just one day before the unions will decide whether to accept the government’s proposal.

Classes begin on Monday itself normally in the provinces of Formosa, San Luis, Chaco, La Rioja, Salta, Jujuy, Misiones and Tierra del Fuego, in some cases without a wage agreement resolved so far.

The government challenged the decision of teachers unions affect the normal start of the academic year 2013 and criticized the unions because they have not understood the purpose of a national joint.

“If we had agreed 30 percent increase that they demand, the discussion in the provinces would not have been possible,” said Education Minister Alberto Sileoni.