PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Hundreds of high school students protested Wednesday in the Haitian capital, angry that a strike by teachers over wages forced the cancellation of classes for a third straight day.
Boys and girls, many of them in their school uniforms, marched near the National Palace and blocked traffic while some hurled rocks at police. Officers eventually dispersed demonstrators with volleys of tear gas.
There were no reports of injuries or arrests.
Many public schools throughout Haiti have been closed because teachers are refusing to work until they receive wages promised by the government but delayed because the Senate has yet to approve a new budget.
Education Minister Nesmy Manigat issued a statement assuring teachers they will receive raises ranging from 30 percent to 50 percent. He urged them to return to work, noting that national exams are just weeks away for many students.
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