2023-07-10 23:31:07
The Puerto Rico Teachers Association (AMPR) today expressed confidence but vigilance before the appointment by the governor, Pedro R. Pierluisi Urrutia, of Dr. Yanira Raíces as secretary of the Department of Education (DE).
Through written statements signed by the president of the AMPR, Víctor M. Bonilla Sánchez, the group pointed out that it will be vigilant that Raíces complies with the agreements previously reached with Eliezer Ramos Parés in favor of educators.
Ramos Parés left DE surprisingly last Friday, June 30. After his departure, Pierluisi Urrutia nominated Ángel Toledo López to occupy the post of chief, but his appointment was withdrawn a week following being nominated following the Senate called itself to attend to the nomination and announced that he did not have the votes to be confirmed. .
Governor appoints Yanira Raíces as secretary of the Department of Education
Toledo López maintained reservations on the part of legislators from the New Progressive Party (PNP) and the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) following comments that he posted on his social networks under the governorship of Alejandro García Padilla were revealed.
Now, the AMPR is open to dialogue with the newly appointed, albeit vigilant, secretary.
“The appointment of Dr. Yanira Raíces, in the first instance, satisfies our demand that urgent attention be paid to the selection of a leader who can take charge of the priority issues of our educational system considering that we are only a month away from start of classes”, said Bonilla Sánchez.
“We know Dr. Raíces as a figure who has held different administrative and supervisory positions in the PRDE for a long time and who knows the important processes that take place in the educational regions and in our schools. In our case, as exclusive representatives of the teaching profession, we have interacted with it in various processes, especially in the Bayamón Educational Region. Certainly, at times our visions have been in conflict and we would have to see the spirit with which she comes to direct the agency. For us it is essential that the person who directs the DEPR can work as a team and has the ability to reach consensus to advance matters of importance for the teaching profession and public education,” added Bonilla Sánchez.
“As we have always done, we will be vigilant and we will monitor that, as part of her work plan, Dr. Raíces complies with the agreements that we had established with her predecessor for the benefit of the teaching profession. In addition, we trust that you are committed to the transformation of our system so that resources reach the schools and so that public education is strengthened from the school communities and not with strategies or intentions to advance the municipalization and/or privatization of our schools”, he ended by saying, urging the designated person to meet with his enrollment.
With less confidence than the AMPR, the union EDUCAMOS received the designation of Raíces.
Also through written statements, the union questioned that “the appointment of a Secretary of Education takes place within what appears to be a partisan battlefield,” and noted that Raíces endorsed the closure of dozens of schools under the leadership of Julia Keleher.
“Beyond any designation or appointment of the person in charge, EDUCAMOS has insisted that whoever leads the agency must be a defender of public schools, advocate for the elimination of Law 85 that promotes Charter Schools as a form of privatize our schools, oppose the false decentralization of the system announced by the current administration and have to commit to a cease and desist to the continuous climate of workplace harassment suffered by the Puerto Rican teachers. In order for our educational system to function properly, there must be a commitment that the billion-dollar budget of the DE reaches the schools and the classroom, which is where it is needed”, they said.
EDUCAMOS also asked that a leader be appointed in the DE “for his educational merits and not for the same criteria that have prevailed up to now.”
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