education and learning
News and articles about work, policy and workers' and students' struggles in education around the world.
France: report from Nanterre University
.jpg "D building 09/11/07")
A brief report on the occupation at Nanterre university.
Yesterday a general assembly (Assemblée générale, or AG) was held at Nanterre, at the beginning around 1200 students were present, numbers dropped as the meeting took two hours but the final vote was over 600 in favour, 199 against and around 100 abstentions. Students voted to begin a strike and a blockade and also to occupy the buildings.
Canada: Anthropology students end strike
The strike began after the Charest government announced an increase in tuition fees.
The strike was voted on by the student groups involved in ASSÉ (Student Solidarity union association) in protest at the planned increases which would amount to 30% over five years.
Student strikes begin in France
Students across France are voting to strike to protect their right to an education and to demand improvements.
In the last two weeks 48 general assemblies have been held in French universities, 33 of which had more than 100 students and 7 more than 500. The main focus of the students' anger is the Pécresse law (on 'autonomy') which is seen as the first step towards privatisation of universities.*
General meeting at Nanterre
This is a translation of a flyer produced by Nanterre students.
Resist, go to the AG!
The mobilisation has begun.
Mexico: Workers at the country's biggest university to vote on pay cut
Workers at UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) in Mexico City will vote on whether to strike or accept an offer of a 4.25% pay rise which even the under-fire union leader admits will amount to a sharp pay cut in relation to inflation.
The workers' union STUNAM (Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) had hoped for a 15% increase, in line with recent steep rises in the cost of living, especially with regard to food and gas.
Northern Ireland: classroom assistants' talks continue
Employers and unions in the classroom assistants' dispute are meeting for an eighth day of face-to-face negotiations at the Labour Relations Agency.
A confidentiality clause has been agreed by employers and unions meeting at the agency, but it appears there has been little progress.
Assemblée générale at Nanterre
This is a translation of a report of the Assemblée générale held at Nanterre, issued by the student group AGEN (general association of students of Nanterre)
The General Assembly held on Tuesday 16th of October at Nanterre, attended by over 300 students, teachers and administrative staff, came out in favour of the withdrawal of the loi Pécresse. [This new law gives 'autonomy' to universities in terms of budgets and is supposed to create a university system better to suited to the job market]
We have adopted the following platform:
Argentina: Teachers strike in memory of colleague
On October 5th there were mass walkouts nationwide by teachers in state and private schools in memory of a colleague who had been killed by police.
Carlos Fuentealba died in April after being struck by a tear gas grenade fired from almost point blank range. The attack took place after Jorge Sobisch, the then Governor of Neuquen and current presidential candidate, ordered police to crack down on a protest march by striking teachers.
NI classroom assistants begin one-day strike
Pickets are being held outside special schools and some other schools in Northern Ireland as a strike by classroom assistants gets under way.
The dispute involves up to 7,000 classroom assistants and has been dragging on for over 10 years. It centres on salaries and pay grades. Most special schools are expected to be closed by the strike and many other schools are likely to have to send pupils home at lunchtime.
Cameroon: Primary school teachers to strike
Teachers have given official notice of strike action from October 2nd to October 5th, this will coincide with the anniversary of the 1966 UNESCO recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
The main demands relate to quality of life. Teachers are demanding that their salaries be re-evaluated, in 1992-1993 salaries were lowered by 50-70% and this fall has not been made up. They are also demanding that all salary arrears be paid in full, including payments linked to exams. They have also asked for a housing allowance.
