Four rural elementary schools in the Puno departments of Cochinoca and Rinconada, in the province of Jujuy, requested a change in the time of entry of students when registering in the area up to 15 degrees below zero, school authorities reported Thursday.
This is a school in the Santo Domingo area, located about 59 kilometers north of the Puno city of Abra Pampa, another in the town of Pozuelos, a third establishment in Nueva Pirquitas and the “Pan de Azúcar” primary school.
The authorities asked that the students enter at 9 instead of 8:30 and comply with the established school day.
“Every year this situation occurs and in the provincial yearbook we have the power to authorize the change of schedule in these schools”René Gaspar, one of the primary education supervisors in the region, told Télam.
The official explained that in recent days “temperatures of up to 15 degrees below zero were recorded at the time of entry to the establishments”, which are more than 3,500 meters above sea level, “in very inhospitable places”.
Gaspar pointed out that in that area, “the number of rural schools predominates and due to their distance from urban centers they are considered unfavorable areas”.
He also considered that “the large amount of rain that fell in that region during the last summer, makes the low temperatures feel much more hostile”, in the middle of autumn.
To the aforementioned schools, “between 15 and 20 students attend, two grade teachers carry out their duties and special subjects are covered with other teachers”, explained the supervisor.
Gaspar did not rule out that the request is also made by urban schools in the Puna of Jujuy“as long as there is a consensus of the educational community and the parents of the students”.
He argued that work is being done to “guarantee devices that guarantee heating in rural educational establishments”, while he valued “the work of teachers who are in charge of children to improve educational quality.”
