Venezuelan Teachers Demand Safety Guarantees Before Resuming Classes Post-Earthquake

Venezuelan teachers are demanding stringent safety guarantees and infrastructure assessments before resuming classes in areas not affected by recent devastating earthquakes. The Federation of Venezuelan Teachers (FVM) issued a clear warning against forcing the reopening of schools without proper technical, structural, and pathological evaluations.

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We demand that the resumption or continuation of school activities not be forced without a proper technical, structural, and pathological evaluation of the buildings.

The FVM expressed solidarity with the affected educational communities, emphasizing that resuming activities in buildings lacking formal habitability certification from competent engineers and civil protection bodies would be an "irresponsibility that puts children, adolescents, and teaching staff at imminent risk." The federation stressed that legal, civil, and criminal responsibility for any incident in functioning educational centers would fall directly on the Minister of Education and authorities who mandated the return.

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Resuming activities in spaces that do not have formal habitability certification... is an irresponsibility that puts children, adolescents, and teaching staff at imminent risk.

Classes were suspended nationwide following earthquakes on June 24 that caused widespread damage and significant loss of life. While the Ministry of Education announced the resumption of classes on July 6 in unaffected zones, the FVM argues that the state's response must go beyond administrative adjustments. They stated that the current crisis is a "national security problem and the preservation of life," transcending mere classroom planning.

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If any contingency occurs in educational centers that are in full operation, the legal, civil, and criminal responsibility will fall directly on the Minister of Education and the authorities who forced the return to classrooms without due guarantees.