WILLEMSTAD - Trade union Sitek has called on all teachers not to go to work this morning and to gather at the trade union building.

Teachers are once again on strike to protest the austerity measures taken by the government in the education sector. Now the schools are responsible for cleaning class rooms and toilets. The government says that it cannot pay these employees anymore.

Several schools protested and organized walkouts and had the children on the playgrounds instead of the classrooms. “The children cannot receive an education in filthy classrooms,” says one of the protesting teachers.

“We barely have enough time to teach, now we need to clean also?” said another teacher.

When asked if they understand that the government does not have enough funds to pay for the cleaning, some teachers argued that it’s not true, the government invested 33 million guilders in a dying company (InselAir), the government is giving money for carnival but nothing for education.