The organization cited several reasons for marching on October 14. Foremost among its demands is a call for public, secular, and free education—funded and administered by the State—”for the millions of children, teenagers, and young people who aspire to a better future.”   It also highlighted the need to demand respect for the educational work performed by the entire school community, as well as the importance of defending the National Social Benefits Fund for Teachers and the right to healthcare for teaching professionals.

  Furthermore, the union rejected threats to crack down on the university community and the increasing stigmatization of public schools, the teaching profession, and the union itself and its affiliates; it argued that such actions incite a distortion of the teacher’s role in fostering critical thinking.

  Fecode noted that the country’s current historical, political, and social climate calls for the broadest possible unity among social, professional, and trade union movements, as well as alternative, democratic, and progressive political groups.

   It emphasized that, given this context, Colombian teachers reaffirm their commitment to the millions of children and adolescents who view public schools as their only hope for education, development, and growth—a path to improving their living conditions and well-being within a safe environment.

  The October 14 mobilization is being planned by the United Workers’ Central (CUT), among others, in conjunction with various social and political organizations that make up the National Unitary Command—the primary body for coordination and unified action among labor unions and pensioner confederations in Colombia.

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