Mexico teachers union brings Mexico City traffic to standstill, riot police brought in to free city from grip of teachers angry over new rule that their performance will be evaluated-BBC

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9/11/13, "Mexican teachers clash with police over education reform," BBC

"Mexican teachers have clashed with the police, as their latest protest against education reforms brought traffic in Mexico City to a standstill. Similar protests took place across the country on Wednesday, a day after President Enrique Pena Nieto's final approval of the reform. 

Mexican teachers have been protesting for months against the reforms, which angered the country's powerful unions.

Among the changes being introduced are performance-related tests for teachers.

Critics accuse Mexico's teachers' unions of being corrupt and having too much control over job allocation. Clashes erupted on Wednesday as the protesters tried to force their way on to the main road to the city's airport.

The teachers marched to President Enrique Pena Nieto's official residence and office, Los Pinos, but were received only by his aides. Angered by what they considered a snub, they tried to block two of Mexico City's main roads which sparked the clashes. 

There were also protests in more than 10 Mexican states, such as Guerrero, Aguascalientes, Michoacan and Tabasco. The reforms have been opposed by a teachers' union, the National Education Workers' Co-ordinator (CNTE), which says they will lead to mass lay-offs.

Last week, thousands of its members protested outside the Senate in an attempt to disrupt the passing of the bill, which had already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies.

The government has argued that union control over teaching jobs has contributed to corruption, which has seen poorly trained teachers promoted over more qualified colleagues."

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