Latin American Ministers Discuss the Region’s Educational Challenges

The debate revolved around the effects of school closures caused by the pandemic and the structural challenges facing the region in education. Among those who participated were the Ministers of Education of Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador, Jaime Perczyk, Alejandro Gaviria, and María Brown respectively; CAF Executive President, Sergio Díaz-Granados; OEI Secretary General, Mariano Jabonero; CAF Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, Christian Asinelli; OEI Assistant Secretary General, Andrés Delich; and Microsoft Vice President of Philanthropy, Kate Behncken.

“To transform education in the region we need to ensure that schools are inclusive, equitable, safe and beneficial. Meanwhile, so as not to be left behind, we must improve the technical and professional capacities of training programs, and integrate hybrid models in teaching to get on board the digital transformation train”, said Díaz-Granados.

Ecuador's Minister of Education, María Brown, emphasized the need for inclusive education that reduces not only economic gaps but also integrates young people and students into its transformational approach. Brown cited examples of studies in her country that revealed that teachers show interest and concern in issues such as climate change, coexistence and security.

???? Total standardization is an impediment to a diversity-driven education. For this reason, María Brown, Minister of Education of Ecuador, proposes “to think more about contextualization, participation and relevance in #education".#LaVozDeLatam ?? https://t.co/riUXKXUVfW pic.twitter.com/CGpZhCTdM9

— CAF (@AgendaCAF) September 20, 2022

The Colombian Minister of Education, Alejandro Gaviria, affirmed that “we were very passive during the pandemic”, since more appropriate measures could have been taken to prevent school dropping out and absenteeism as well as the lack of access to media and technology, among other issues. Gaviria cited statistics in Colombia that show that its quality of education, in a process of leveling out as regards closing the gap between rich and poor, suffered a significant setback during lockdown.

Argentina’s Minister of Education, Jaime Perczyk, emphasized the importance of financing and implementing innovative solutions that go beyond generating a monetary impact. He reminded that the countries of the region have shared needs and that there is a long yet promising road ahead in approaches such as that of CAF within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly.

The last part of the debate was led by CAF’s Corporate Vice President for Strategic Programming, the Deputy Secretary General of the OEI and Microsoft’s Vice President of Philanthropy, who highlighted inclusion, recognition, the reduction of inequalities, and the integration of stakeholders as key factors that should underpin innovation in the education sector. In closing, Behncken discussed the need to fill new jobs generated by technology, and to develop new skills that respond to current needs, especially those related to the digital world.