The Minister of Education, Marco Antonio Avilaattended the National Congress this Wednesday for the interpellation against him promoted by the deputies of Chile Vamos, who requested it after the announcement – together with his peer from Health, Maria Begona Yarza– The extension of the winter holidays, which generated discrepancies in the sector.
The deputy of the UDI, Jorge Alessandriwas in charge of carrying out the process against the head of the Mineduc -the first during the Government of the President Gabriel Boric-, asking mainly about the acts of violence that have been registered in the different high schools of the country, as well as the media measure of the extension of the winter recess season.
You may also like:
When asked about the extension of the winter holidays, the Secretary of State stressed that it was an exceptional measure taken interministerially due to the epidemiological situation that the country was experiencing during the month of June, when the pediatric ICU beds were 90% occupied.
In addition, he specified that during this time, there is a high average of school absenteeism due to medical licenses caused by respiratory diseases, added to 20% of medical permits presented by teachers.
In this context and showing the results of the measure announced by the Mineduc and the Minsal, where there is indeed a drop in hospitalizations, Ávila indicated that “I am convinced that we made the right decision,” adding that it was allowed to ensure face-to-face in the second semester.
Violence in establishments
Another point addressed by deputy Alessandri was the violence that exists in the emblematic high schools, to which he alleges a lack of measures by the Government.
Given this, the Minister of Education pointed out that part of these events are due to poor planning that existed for attendance in schools. “It is essential to return to the manuals and rules of coexistence (…) there is a scenario of violence that is also social and structural and that, unfortunately, has entered the schools,” he said.
He also stated that as a government they have planned reunions in educational spaces and the reduction of the day, in order to seek strategies, since “with violence there is no education.”
Referring to the protests that have ended with excesses in the surroundings of the emblematic high schools, the head of the Mineduc denied an inaction by the Executive since they have carried out plans in conjunction with the municipalities, added to meetings with the students. “I totally condemn the violence; we will dialogue, but not with those who burn a bus. What we must do is look for real and substantive solutions,” he closed.
