STORY: Bolivian teachers marched through the streets of La Paz on Friday (October 23) as part of a 24-hour national strike, marking the first major protest against President Rodrigo Paz's government since a nationwide State of Exception was declared.

Teachers converged at the Minister of Education despite heavy rain and a heavy police presence.

Paz's administration declared the State of Exception on June 20, 2026, and extended it on September 17 through December 20, a measure that formally prohibits public protests and marches. Friday's strike is the largest show of public dissent since those restrictions took effect.

Teachers are demanding increased education funding, improved salaries, new job positions, and a leveling of teaching workloads. The union says it is defending Bolivia's public fiscal education system and rejecting what it describes as government moves toward decentralization or privatization of public education, specifically opposing a proposal to transfer administration of technical and technological institutes from the national government to regional governorships.

Education Minister Erick Sanjines stated on Tuesday (October 20) that the government has no intention of privatizing education.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF URBAN TEACHERS UNION PROTEST IN THE MIDDLE OF TORRENTIAL RAIN

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TEACHER, ROBERTO POMA, SAYING:

“Yes, we’ll keep marching, go on with the strike even if there is rain or not, we’re going to keep fighting to ensure our demands are met.”

3. URBAN TEACHERS PROTEST

4. INDIGENOUS WOMAN MARCHING IN THE RAIN

5. TEACHERS PROTESTING IN THE RAIN

6. VARIOUS OF URBAN TEACHERS UNION MARCHING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANAHI BOZO, URBAN TEACHERS LEADER, SAYING:

“We have held protests at the national level and today at the departmental level against the decentralization of education. The minister and the government have indicated that they will transfer responsibility for the ITTs (Technical and Technological Institutes) to the departmental governments. This is an irresponsible measure for our entire country because departmental governments and municipalities cannot take charge of education. Today, the national teachers’ union has demonstrated its strength through a resounding nationwide strike.”

8. VARIOUS OF URBAN TEACHERS MARCHING