While Together for Change discusses internal leadership, a suggestion from Patricia Bullrich generated a strong intersection with the Civic Coalition. The head of the PRO affirmed that, in case of reaching the presidency in 2023, would eliminate the ministries of Health and Education. The proposal was flatly rejected by the party led by Elisa Carrio.
The controversy arose with the statements of Patricia Bullrich to the program Stray animals (America). “You cannot have a ministry [en el] what nobody gives you ball. The Ministry of Education is a bureaucracy, ”said the leader, recognizing her presidential aspiration.
As a replacement, the owner of PRO proposed that she would promote “an education agency”, where, he clarified, “you can think of education and the 24 Ministers of Education [de las provincias y CABA] they will generate the concrete standards”, he indicated. And he noted: “We have to encourage ourselves to change the statues”.
Bullrich maintained that he would implement the reforms that the country needs “without gradualism.” He considered it necessary to also get rid of the Ministry of Health, expressing that it is an area that is largely controlled from the provinces. He thus promised a cabinet of “eight ministries” under a “coordination model.”
Deputy Maximilian Ferraro, head of the Civic Coalition at the national level, replied the idea hours later through Twitter. “Dear Patricia Bullrich, it is not about eliminating the Ministry but about defining, without any hesitation, educational policies priority,” he replied.
Through a Twitter thread, the legislator close to Elisa Carrió asserted, in this line, the importance of promoting different lines of action as a “Comprehensive evaluation”, strengthen the “teacher training, accreditation and evaluation”, and put in place a scheme for “link school to work”.
“I disagree with eliminating the Ministry of Education. It is a mistake to propose to do it when it is the main governing body for educational policies, coordination with the jurisdictions to guarantee common criteria of quality and equity with a federal perspective”, he detailed.
The legislator admitted, however, that it is necessary “discuss how to make it more efficient, less bureaucratic and that resources be allocated with greater educational justice”. And he emphasized: “That’s why we must avoid falling into ‘marketing’ recipes when education is the central policy for the progress of a Nation”.
Ferraro considered it necessary, in the face of educational challenges, to promote “Early Warning Systems to identify cases of school dropout”, advance with the application of the “extended day”, “strengthen the teaching of language and mathematics”, and the implementation of the “common quality standards”.
Despite the criticism, the legislator closed his comment with deference. “We must be respectful of the work that the foundations of our parties have been carrying out in defining the diagnosis and possible paths to follow,” he said, adding: “I send you a big hug”.
After Ferraro’s statements, it was another deputy, Gerardo Milman, which added to the controversy. Close to Bullrich and a former Security Ministry official, Milman responded to the head of the Civic Coalition.
“Dear Maximiliano Ferraro, what we want is a Ministry of Education as a definition space advanced educational policies. Where are the 24 Ministers of Education of the provinces, ”he pointed out. And he added: “We want a real Ministry of Education, not that there isn’t one”.
“Today, Argentine education is focused on passing the grade or the year, regardless of the content or what has been learned,” argued the opposition legislator.
The comment earned him a new response from Ferraro. “Then instead of talking about Agency let’s argue, debate and talk about educational policies that are necessary. I want an efficient ministry, without a bureaucracy that obstructs the transformations and officials who are encouraged, “he said.