Why Peru might always be poor

Wow, I just tried to leave the internet and once again ran into a huge protest with flying rocks and clouds of tear gas, so I came back inside. Since Peru has the second worst school system in the Americas behind Haiti, the president has issued standardized tests for all teachers. Obviously they don't like it.
Let me explain a little bit about the teachers in Peru because it's very sad. The situation is pretty much the opposite of the states. Teaching is very well respected and brings a nice salary as well. This seems very illogical to me because in most of my experience observing the local teachers here, I have always been very disappointed. Generally, they don't take their professions seriously at all. This is apparent through skipping school days, heavy drinking and constant protests and strikes demanding more money and more holidays.
Now on top of that, these bums have a huge problem taking a test that insures they know the material they're supposed to be teaching. I feel like the state of the educational system here might be the saddest part of the local culture. Sometimes these protests seem reasonable, but this is ridiculous.
Anyway, I getting back to Austin on the morning of the 4th of August and am more than ready.