Education Minister Samaria Tovela has called for patience from teachers protesting unpaid overtime wages. While acknowledging the legitimacy of their claims, the Minister stated that the State lacks the financial capacity to settle the entire debt immediately. This response follows a new wave of classroom walkouts by educators demanding regularized payments. Tovela argued that interrupting lessons is an ineffective protest method as it harms thousands of students. Furthermore, she warned that participating teachers could face administrative legal procedures. The government claims to have fully paid overtime for 2022 and part of 2023. However, debts remain for the remainder of 2023 and the entirety of 2024.