The teacher leader Eddy Pinto, from the National Union of Educators of Panama (UNEP), referred to the meeting or bilateral table that the Ministry of Education (Meduca) maintains with the teachers’ unions to specify various issues around the start of face-to-face classes in the country by March 7, 2022.
Pinto alluded to the last meeting they held last Thursday, December 16, in which they were attended by the Meduca deputy minister, stating that they cannot be wasting time and no agreements are reached at this table.
He criticized the presence of this official, since they consider that she does not have command or jurisdiction to approve pending issues.
“We have pending issues such as the issue of zoning difficult-to-access areas, teacher advocacy, and school conditions. We have heard Meduca say that 90% of the schools will be ready by March 7th, however, we know that this will not be the case; There is no excuse for us to start the 2022 school year in person, “he remarked.
Pinto reiterated that the union has always been ready and prepared to carry out the teaching and learning process, “proof of this is that during the pandemic we have thrown that mucura to man with governments that were a little unaware of Panamanian students by not offering connectivity and offering the necessary tools to start the school year online, not virtual because virtual implies other things ”.
The teachers’ leaders hope to receive a call from the Minister of Education, Maruja Gorday de Villalobos to meet again, before the end of the year.
As for the 4 thousand teachers who refuse to be vaccinated, he specified that it is a right, but they cannot force any educator to apply the two doses, despite the fact that it is the primary requirement for a safe return to classes.
“I respect that they have not been vaccinated, but we cannot force them and we know that they have functions to fulfill. My colleagues know that on March 7 they have to receive students in schools. Some have told me that they are not going to be vaccinated and they will attend the school year using their masks and face shield, and they will attend to their boys, “he said.
According to Pinto, one of the hottest issues is teacher advocacy. “We know that there are defenders in various state entities, and we have no one. The Directorate of Legal Advice responds to the Meduca administration, not to the administrative problems that the teacher may have, in that state of defenselessness we want to reach an agreement so that we can have a teacher advocate in the 16 school regions in a legal way , and what we have proposed is that this ombudsman be attached to Meduca ”, he indicated.
The country’s teachers trust that the National Government can have the educational centers in optimal conditions to house students next year. In addition, they hope that no outbreaks will occur due to Covid-19.
