Guatemalan schoolteachers end protests

Guatemala City, Feb 28 (IANS/EFE) Guatemalan schoolteachers have ended a weeklong protest after the government agreed to increase their salary, officials said.

The teachers have staged a massive protest in the capital and also blocked highways in the country.

The Guatemalan president’s office said in a communique Saturday that “an accord was reached” during a meeting of the government representatives and leaders of the National Teachers Assembly (ANM) Friday.

Education Minister Dennis Alonso and head of ANM Joviel Acevedo participated in the talks. ANM is the country’s biggest union of public-school teachers. As per the agreement, teachers will get an eight-percent pay hike.

–IANS/EFE