They reject changes in education with the appointment of new ministers

Experts agree that for the system to improve, they must start with good foundations, through robust programs

The doctor in educational sciences and expert in public policies for the education system, Mariano Herreraconsiders that the priorities that the new Minister of Education, Héctor Rodríguez, must address are linked to the current situation of schools.

“Specifically, the country’s public primary and secondary schools, specifically those official from the Ministry of Education, have two major problems,” he said.

He explained that the most important thing a school should have is good teachers, “with good working conditions”, which implies “good pay” and the best possible infrastructure.

“I think it can’t be less than $400 a month.” He gave his opinion on the salary, however, he highlighted that this does not increase the quality of life of teachers, “but there is a condition of minimum dignity for a teaching professional (…), because there you can demand that they work with a good performance” , to express

In a radio interview, he explained that in order for the system to improve, they must start with good solid foundations through initial literacy, also, he emphasized promoting logic, the collaborative spirit and critical thinking.

NO CHANGES

“If there are no changes in policy, there are no changes in the fate of university education and, in general, the whole context of the country,” said the president of the Association of University Teachers of the Central University of Venezuela (Apucv), José Gregorio Afonso.

The head of the Apucv said that the UCV faculty does not have higher expectations due to the appointment of Ricardo Sánchez as the new Minister of University Education.

“Higher education does not need a change of minister, but a change of policy, and there is no reason to doubt that this is going to happen,” Afonso expressed.

He pointed out that there have been more than a dozen portfolio holders in a decade “and the same policy is maintained.”

He ensured that such a mechanism included curtailing the autonomy of universities, with the government absorbing powers inherent in the sector’s authorities, “by limiting the choice of authorities in a good part of the country’s universities and, in general, having university students in jobs that discourage academic careers and expose them to poverty.”

He said that with the resources allocated to the university’s presidential commission, the university itself could do three times more in a more transparent manner.