The interim Minister of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands, José Antonio Valbuena, announced this Wednesday that this week the educational de-escalation plan will be closed so that the centers of the islands can reopen in the conditions set by Phase 2, which began last Monday.
In a parliamentary commission in which he acknowledged that he had "15 minutes" to prepare it due to his 'express' appointment after the resignation of María José Guerra on Monday, he indicated that the document is finalized pending "polishing" some aspects.
Valbuena clarified that the opening will take place to welcome students who are changing educational stages (that is, 6th grade of Primary, 4th of ESO and 2nd of Baccalaureate), who may voluntarily attend educational centers for face-to-face tutoring, guidance and educational reinforcement activities.
Regarding the incorporation of teachers, he clarified that "it is not necessary to force anyone with a vocation for public service to do their job, as has been happening until now with other sectors and officials such as health workers or security forces".
The counselor explained during his speech that the text, which will be agreed upon with the educational community, "will define clear instructions from the Ministry for management teams and teachers, who will modulate this end of the course and will also respond to the questions raised by mothers and fathers".
He said that there will be "clear instructions" for the centers regarding the reopening starting next Monday, stressing that the Government puts itself "in the place of all" the agents involved for the return to the classrooms. Precisely the lack of a defined protocol has been the biggest reason for complaint from teachers and union representatives, who had requested the resignation of their predecessor in office.
In that sense, he indicated that there will be support groups to resolve the "doubts" that the management centers may have.
Regarding the next course, he acknowledged that it will be "complex" because the Canary Islands has more than 1,000 educational centers that mobilize more than 10% of the population of the islands "and it is not simple", because "it is not enough to put a sign separating two meters", as shopping centers do. "The magnitude of the problem is important," he commented.
Regarding the infant schools from zero to three years old, which could also open in Phase 2 of the de-escalation, he pointed out that there is an action protocol designed by the Public Health area, but added that some "corrections" will be made given the special characteristics of the users.
"We want them to be launched as soon as possible in the coming weeks," he stressed.
