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Brazilian Ministry of Education considers strike at federal universities premature.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education denies that the minimum wage for teachers is R$ 557,51, as reported by the National Union of Professors of Higher Education Institutions (Andes).

Ministry of Education considers strike at federal universities premature (Photo: Wilson Dias/Agência Brasil)

Agency Brazil - The Ministry of Education considers the strike by professors at federal higher education institutions to be premature. In a statement released today (26), the ministry also denies that the minimum wage for professors is R$ 557,51, as reported by the National Union of Professors of Higher Education Institutions (Andes).

According to the ministry, only 180 teachers out of a total of 70 receive R$ 1.597,92 for a work week of just 20 hours. "With the 4% increase plus the incorporation of bonuses, the lowest salary for a teacher without any postgraduate degree (doctorate, master's degree, or any specialization) working 40 hours is R$ 2.872,85. A teacher with exclusive dedication and a doctorate receives a minimum of over R$ 7," said Amaro Lins, Secretary of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, in the text.

According to the ministry, the 4% readjustment agreed upon with the union representatives was implemented by virtue of a provisional measure signed by President Dilma Rousseff on the 11th of this month and published in the Official Gazette on the 14th. The ministry argues that this readjustment was defined before the start of the strike and is retroactive to March.

Regarding the Career Plan, negotiations are taking place within the Ministry of Planning, and its implementation is scheduled for 2013, according to the Ministry of Education.

The national strike at federal universities began on the 17th. According to Andes, the movement will continue until the government presents a proposal for the category's analysis.