Maduro to unilaterally suspend all education in advance of elections [View all]

[GatoGordo]

Classes will be suspended as of May 15 by elections
By: Press Min Education | Thursday, 05/10/2018 06:21 AM

Caracas, May 10 - As of May 15, classes will be suspended throughout the national territory, for the presidential elections to be held on May 20, reported the Ministry of Education.

Through a statement, posted on the Ministry's Twitter account, the ministerial body said that the classes will be suspended until May 21.

"Suspension of school activities are motivated to the Electoral Schedule corresponding to the process of Presidential Election and State Legislative Councils, scheduled for May 20, 2018, by the National Electoral Council," the text reads.

For the presidential elections of this Sunday more than 20 million people are called, who will choose between five candidates for the next President of the Republic for the period 2019-2025.

https://www.aporrea.org/educacion/n324891.html

Aporrea is a website devoted to all things Chavismo. The Venezuela equivalent of DU.

It is estimated that 1/2 of eligible children do not go to classes any longer. Teachers have long since deserted their positions and have either taken positions outside of teaching or fled the country. There are few buses to transport students, and new dictates force young children to walk over 4 kilometers to school in urban areas. Rural schools typically are closed.

Maduro's major concern is that his core constituency (20% of Venezuela are loyal to Chavez and his movement) will not show up at the polls, making it difficult for him to manifest his prediction that 10 million will vote for him.