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Mexico's President Pena Nieto defends education reform | Mexico's President Pena Nieto defends education reform |
(about 14 hours later) | |
The President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, has used his first state-of-the-union address to defend his government's education reform. | |
Tens of thousands of teachers oppose a plan to introduce mandatory evaluations, which they believe would lead to massive lay-offs. | Tens of thousands of teachers oppose a plan to introduce mandatory evaluations, which they believe would lead to massive lay-offs. |
But the president said Mexico's future depended on the reform, and argued it would improve the quality of education. | But the president said Mexico's future depended on the reform, and argued it would improve the quality of education. |
He pledged federal funding for teachers who needed retraining. | He pledged federal funding for teachers who needed retraining. |
"The education reform will move forward because it carries with it the future of Mexico," Mr Pena Nieto said to applause before an audience of officials, military officers and lawmakers. | "The education reform will move forward because it carries with it the future of Mexico," Mr Pena Nieto said to applause before an audience of officials, military officers and lawmakers. |
"Our dilemma had been whether to continue to stagnate or to allow the state to recover the leadership and transform and improve the quality of education," he added. | "Our dilemma had been whether to continue to stagnate or to allow the state to recover the leadership and transform and improve the quality of education," he added. |
Weeks of protests | Weeks of protests |
But as he spoke at his presidential residence, thousands of teachers maintained a base camp in Mexico City's historic Zocalo square, from where they have launched weeks of protests against the measure. | But as he spoke at his presidential residence, thousands of teachers maintained a base camp in Mexico City's historic Zocalo square, from where they have launched weeks of protests against the measure. |
On Sunday, they marched through the streets of the capital but were prevented from reaching the Congress building by thousands of riot police and military officers. | On Sunday, they marched through the streets of the capital but were prevented from reaching the Congress building by thousands of riot police and military officers. |
Earlier, there were clashes between security forces and young anti-government demonstrators who threw rocks and petrol bombs to disrupt the opening of a new legislative session of parliament. | Earlier, there were clashes between security forces and young anti-government demonstrators who threw rocks and petrol bombs to disrupt the opening of a new legislative session of parliament. |
The education bill, which still needs the approval of the Senate, calls for mandatory assessment of teachers for them to keep their jobs and receive promotions. | The education bill, which still needs the approval of the Senate, calls for mandatory assessment of teachers for them to keep their jobs and receive promotions. |
Under the current system, teachers can inherit their positions. | Under the current system, teachers can inherit their positions. |
Wide-ranging agenda | Wide-ranging agenda |
In his state-of-the-union address, which lasted a little over an hour, President Pena Nieto also touted the "grand transformation" of Mexico that he said he had pushed since he took office nine months ago. | |
He said that drug-related murders had dropped by 20% in the first six months of his government, compared to the same period last year. | He said that drug-related murders had dropped by 20% in the first six months of his government, compared to the same period last year. |
And he insisted that his plans to shake up the energy and banking sectors, as well as the tax system, were crucial for the country's growth. | And he insisted that his plans to shake up the energy and banking sectors, as well as the tax system, were crucial for the country's growth. |
He spoke of the "hundreds of thousands of jobs" which he expected to be generated by a proposed reform of the energy sector and the state-run oil giant, Pemex. | He spoke of the "hundreds of thousands of jobs" which he expected to be generated by a proposed reform of the energy sector and the state-run oil giant, Pemex. |
However, the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City said that the speech will anger opponents for the things it failed to mention as much as for those it did, in particular: a 5% unemployment rate, millions working in the informal economy and floundering growth rates. | However, the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City said that the speech will anger opponents for the things it failed to mention as much as for those it did, in particular: a 5% unemployment rate, millions working in the informal economy and floundering growth rates. |
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