Parents lockdown elementary school to protest teacher shortage

For the past few months teachers across Baja California have been refusing to work because they have not been paid by the state government due to a lack of funds.

This has led to a teacher shortage in Mexicali that’s affecting students there.

Parents have placed the school on lockdown and say they are not leaving until their questions are answered.

Over 700 students in “El Condo Neighborhood” did not attend school today as parents protested.

” We are demanding that they send us a teacher for third grade. Since school started, the third grade class has not had a teacher and students are not able to go to school, ” said Jesus Angulo , parent.

Students in the third grade at Enero Elementary School have not had a teacher all school year and parents have been told not to bring their children to school until they receive a teacher.

Last week there was a sign of hope.

” Last week our children were able to attend class. We thought there would be a teacher for our kids, but it was the assistant principal. She taught our children for three days, and after three days we were told that classes for our third graders would be suspended until further notice, ” said Angulo .

Parents say the school district promised to have more teachers for their children by the end of this year.

” It’s been over a month. My son just stays home all day, and I practice his times tables and other material with him, but it’s not the same, he’s falling behind. I had to ask permission to leave work today, so I could be here. I need my son to continue school, his education is too important, ” said Angulo .

The school principal of Enero Elementary, says even though the school has been placed on lockdown by parents, school staff is still required to show up at school.

” At this school it’s 30 students that have not had a teacher all year, and they are not the only students, there are more students within the district with the same problem. We hope this issue gets resolved soon, ” said Hugo Garcia, school principal.

According to school staff, many parents are switching schools, but they are running into similar problems at other school districts that are also affected by the teacher shortage.

It is unclear when these students will be able to go back to class, meanwhile parents say they are doing the best they can to teach their children at home.

We reached out to the Calexico Unified School District to see if any students from Mexico enrolled there due to the teacher shortage in Mexicali, but I am waiting to hear back.