BRIEFS. Education

Pay problems plague teachers

It has been six months since Julio Martínez started to work as a teacher at the Instituto José Dolores Moscote, in the area of Rio Abajo.

At present, only two months until the end of the school year, he has not received any salary from the Ministry of Education.

During these months, Martínez has been forced to live off loans and the generosity of relatives.

“They said not to worry, as payment will come the next payday, but nothing has happened,” he said.

Christian Sánchez, the ministry's human resources director, described the case as “exceptional,” but acknowledged that 5 percent of the teachers who enter the system take up to four months to collect their first payment.

He also reported that, in a few instances, payments can take even longer.

Sánchez was adamant, however, that Martínez would receive his back pay by Nov. 15.