Venezuelan teachers demand safety guarantees before resuming classes post-earthquake

The Venezuelan Federation of Teachers (FVM) is demanding safety and infrastructure guarantees as classes are set to resume on Monday in areas not affected by the devastating earthquakes of June 24. The seismic events caused at least 3,342 deaths and 16,740 injuries.

The FVM expressed solidarity with the affected educational community and categorically stated that schools should not reopen without a thorough technical, structural, and pathological evaluation of the buildings. The federation warned that resuming activities in spaces lacking formal habitability certification from competent engineers, technicians, and civil protection organizations would be irresponsible and put children, adolescents, and staff at imminent risk.

According to the FVM, any incident in a functioning school under such conditions would place direct legal, civil, and criminal responsibility on the Minister of Education and any authorities who forced a return to classrooms without proper assurances. The federation emphasized that the state's response should go beyond administrative adjustments to the school calendar, calling the situation a matter of national security and the preservation of life.

Classes were suspended nationwide on June 27 by acting president Delcy Rodríguez, following earthquakes that also damaged hundreds of buildings and caused the collapse of 190 structures, primarily in the coastal state of La Guaira. The Ministry of Education announced on Friday that classes would resume on July 6 in unaffected zones, while remaining suspended in areas hit by the tremors. The ministry also ordered the incorporation of risk management into the curriculum.