Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Venezuelan teachers struggle amid economic crisis
The story on this page has some tougher vocabulary words and questions to improve your understanding and English grammar.
The El Ropero Solidario thrift store provides financial assistance to educators while fostering community support through donated clothing. Photo: AFPContent provided by British Council
[1] With a monthly salary of US$15 (HK$116), a teacher in Venezuela earns nowhere near enough to cover their basic food necessities, never mind rent or medicine. Many in the crisis-stricken South American country are forced to work multiple jobs or pool their money with family.
[2] “For the past two years, the situation has been horrible; you can’t even buy shoes,” said 70-year-old Maria Cerezo. Cerezo, who was at a thrift shop in the capital, Caracas, has been a teacher in the public sector for 39 years. She had just selected a blue nylon dress with white polka dots and a price tag of US$2. She hid the garment behind other clothes for sale. “I’ll get it tomorrow, God willing because I don’t have the money today,” Cerezo explained.
[3] A basket of food essentials for a family of four in Venezuela costs about US$500 a month. This figure is 33 times the salary of a teacher – a profession that has historically been underpaid, but never as little as now. Cerezo’s family budget is supported by the salaries of her daughter – also a teacher – and her husband, a lawyer.
[4] A public sector teacher’s salary is not even among the lowest. The minimum salary in Venezuela today is US$2 a month, which the government supplements with subsidies. Most public schools today operate only two or three days a week so that teachers can work additional jobs. Some give private lessons, others drive taxis or sell crafts. Venezuela’s education system has a deficit of 200,000 teachers, according to the government.
[5] For those who remain in the profession, there is the El Ropero Solidario thrift store in Caracas. It is run by teacher Kethy Mendoza and supported by the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers. Much of the merchandise comes from educators, who receive half of the sale price of an item of clothing – which they can also opt to donate – while the other half keeps the shop running.
[6] “We are role models for the children,” Mendoza, 64, explained of the endeavour. The project also aims to help teachers in need of medicines, food and emergency hospital care. “If we go to school poorly dressed because the economic crisis doesn’t allow us to buy a change of clothes or decent shoes, how can we expect of the pupils to come dressed properly, presentable?”
Source: Agence-France Presse, February 22
Questions
1. According to paragraph 1, what are many teachers forced to do in Venezuela, and why? (2 marks)
2. In paragraph 2, Cerezo hid the dress because she …
A. could not afford it.
B. did not like it.
C. wanted it in a different colour.
D. wanted to buy it for someone else.
3. In Venezuela, teachers’ salaries used to be … than it is now according to paragraph 3.
A. lower
B. higher
C. about the same
D. none of the above
4. In paragraph 4, why don’t many children in Venezuela’s public schools go to school every day?
5. What does the “profession” in paragraph 5 refer to?
6. Complete the following summary using the correct forms of the word “earn”. (3 marks)
Teachers in Venezuela (i) __________________ a meagre US$15 every month, which is insufficient for basic needs. They have always been underpaid, but have never (ii) __________________ so little. The situation has become so dire that some of them are (iii) __________________ extra money giving private lessons or driving taxis.
Answers
1. They are forced to work multiple jobs, or pool their money with family because they earn nowhere near enough to cover their basic food necessities.
2. A
3. B
4. because the teachers need to work additional jobs on other days to earn more money (accept all similar answers)
5. teacher
6. (i) earn; (ii) earned; (iii) earning