Back to school in the state network of SP has threat of strike – 02/03/2023 – Education

The school year begins this Friday (3) in state schools in São Paulo with the threat of a teachers’ strike. Contrary to the new rule for assigning classes, teachers already have an assembly scheduled to decide on the stoppage.

Since the beginning of the year, teachers have asked for the revocation of a measure by the Rodrigo Garcia (PSDB) administration, which started to give priority in the distribution of classes to those who choose to have a longer workload. Previously, priority was given to teachers who had been working in the network for a long time, that is, those with more experience in the classroom.

Despite the teachers’ dissatisfaction, the management of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) decided to maintain the new rules. By inducing professionals to work longer hours, the Department of Education tries to solve the chronic lack of teachers that schools experienced throughout the last year.

In a note, the folder says that it starts the school year with 100% of classes available, in more than 5,300 state schools, with an assigned teacher, and that this is a result of the change in the assignment rule. According to the secretariat, the change ensured that “it was protected from the problem of a lack of teachers”.

Deputy Maria Izabel Noronha (PT), president of Apeoesp (main category union), criticizes the measure.

“They made this change to try to solve a problem that they themselves created. The lack of teachers in São Paulo happens because they don’t take public exams and pay poorly. It’s not forcing the teacher to work more that they’re going to solve what they caused”, said Maria Izabel.

According to her, the teachers have already scheduled an assembly for March 3 to discuss whether to go on strike, if the current rules are maintained.

In January alone, Apeoesp held three acts in front of the secretariat’s headquarters, in Praça da República, in the center of the capital. The union also tried to set up a meeting with secretary Renato Feder, but was only received by his assistants.

“The secretary ignored our attempts at dialogue, opted to maintain a policy that harms those who have the most experience, those who know and are most dedicated to the schools of São Paulo. If necessary, we will go on strike to be heard”, said the president of Apeoesp .

According to the new rules, teachers can choose three options for working hours: 40, 24 or 19 hours per week. Priority is given to those who opt for the longest journey.

Thus, newly hired teachers on a temporary basis began to fill the vacancies of those who have been working in schools for years simply because they agreed to work longer hours.

“It is a change that, in addition to being disrespectful to the teacher who has dedicated himself to the classroom for years, does not think about the best quality of teaching. Repu (Public School and University Network) and specialist in teaching work.

She argues that the solution to the shortage of teachers involves valuing the career, that is, by hiring more professionals and offering better wages and working conditions.

São Paulo has not held a public tender to hire new teachers for nine years, and in the last four years it has invested in policies that have extended class time in schools, putting even more pressure on the demand for these professionals.

The way out found by the folder was to hire teachers on a temporary basis. According to data from the secretariat itself, of the 216.8 thousand teachers in the network, 96.7 thousand are temporary (44.6% of the total).

“This is not a policy of valuing education. Temporary teachers have fewer rights, they have a contract that expires. It is not an attractive situation and, therefore, many give up when they find a vacancy in a private school or in another public school” , says Barbosa.

Although a public tender for hiring new professors was authorized by the state last year, the selection process has not yet been opened.

According to the secretariat, the forecast is that the contest will only be launched in the second half of 2023. The folder informed that it is studying the selection criteria “aiming at the best candidates for education in São Paulo”. He also said that Apeoesp was received and that “all claims were heard”.