Teachers will march on Monday, March 2: march schedule to Congress and main demands

The Teachers’ Confederation of Education (Ctera) called for a nationwide teachers’ strike on Monday, March 2, which resulted in a massive shutdown of public and private schools across the country. The decision was ratified at the organization’s Ordinary and Extraordinary Congress held on February 20. This strike marked an important milestone: it was the first time in six years that such a mobilization occurred at the start of the school year in Buenos Aires Province.

11:30 at the Cabildo: when does the national teachers’ march begin

The protest day included a large gathering in Buenos Aires starting at 11:30 at the Cabildo, located at the intersection of Avenida de Mayo and Bolívar. From there, teachers marched to the National Congress to voice their demands in front of the legislative building. The initiative brought together education workers from La Quiaca to Tierra del Fuego, forming a nationwide movement.

Sonia Alesso, general secretary of Ctera, described the moment as “a very, very complex start to the year” and highlighted that the education sector has maintained actions and mobilizations “all last year with rallies, tents, and strikes at the provincial and national levels” to demand improvements in the education budget.

National teachers’ strike: reasons behind Ctera and the Unity Front’s demands

The teachers’ organizations presented a list of demands that includes an immediate call for the national bargaining process, salary increases that surpass inflation and restore purchasing power, and the reinstatement of FONID — a fund they believe was removed by the Milei government.

María Laura Torre, deputy general secretary of Suteba, stated that the main demand is the lack of funding for education. “From La Quiaca to Tierra del Fuego, we denounce that there is no funding, and we demand the return of FONID, which was taken away,” she said, referring to the national scope of the protest.

The Argentine Private Teachers’ Union issued a statement rejecting both the Labor Modernization project and the educational reform initiatives promoted by the national government, describing them as “a serious backward step in labor, educational, and social rights.” The union emphasized that these measures directly affect the present and future of teaching and public education in Argentina.

Other demands include rejecting the Educational Freedom Law and any initiative that commercializes education, improving working conditions with adequate infrastructure and pedagogical resources, job stability, and defending teachers’ pension schemes.

2026 school year suspended: how the teachers’ strike impacted the provinces

The strike had immediate consequences on the school calendar. In 15 provinces, including Buenos Aires, the start of the 2026 school year was postponed by one day. Buenos Aires Province was particularly affected: approximately five million students experienced delayed start dates due to the teachers’ union action by the Unity Front.

Hugo Yasky, general secretary of CTA, expressed support for the teachers’ mobilization via social media, criticizing the President’s policies. The Teachers’ Confederation shared images of the march’s start at different points across the country, highlighting the geographical extent of the protest.

Although Ctera specifically called for the strike on Monday, March 2, without indicating it would last longer, uncertainty about the resumption of classes caused concern among parents. It was expected that most of the country would resume activities on Tuesday, March 3, one day after the original school calendar.

The teachers’ action plan continues with caravans, tents, and additional mobilizations nationwide, demonstrating that the protest is a prolonged struggle strategy to pressure the government to address the sector’s educational demands.