The President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, attended this Monday the inauguration of the new Minister of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports, Manuela Armas, and the new Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo, at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Government in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
In the act, which was attended by members of the Government and representatives of the different public institutions of the Archipelago, the President of the Canary Islands thanked Trujillo and Armas for "the commitment and courage" for accepting two positions "so relevant in such difficult times." "There are times when it is easier to say no than to say yes," said the president, "and they have demonstrated a commitment to public service." The head of the Executive stressed that the new ministers face important challenges in the face of the new normality "that has a lot of new and little normality," he added.
Ángel Víctor Torres stressed that this stage is full of challenges in both areas, which are fundamental pillars for the maintenance of the welfare state and in which the Government of the Canary Islands has focused all its efforts, "and will continue to do so in accordance with the commitments made in the progress pact signed by the four forces that support the Government, exactly one year ago today."
Regarding the minister, Manuela Armas, he highlighted her experience in public management, as mayor of Arrecife or president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, for example, and her career in Education, where she already served as Deputy Minister. The president recalled that Armas is also a teacher and has a deep knowledge of the education system.
The new Minister of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuela Armas, said after taking office that she assumes the position with "great responsibility" and a "great enthusiasm", and added that her "great love" for teaching is what has led her to take on this challenge in a "difficult" and "very uncertain" moment.
Manuela Armas, who replaces María José Guerra and José Antonio Valbuena - who was minister on an interim basis - recalled that she was a teacher for forty years and, therefore, knows the role that this group plays in the education system; therefore, she assured that she will count on them and also on the families, who have been "the best" during the confinement.
She admitted that it is going to be a "difficult, hard and very busy" summer in preparation for the start of the next academic year, but she said she is used to it and said she is not afraid: "It is a complicated challenge but here I am to work together with my team."
In any case, she pointed out that she is not only concerned about the return to the classrooms, but also about the "great challenges" that the Canary Islands has in education, hence one of her objectives is that the archipelago can be "up to" other autonomous communities.
Manuela Armas advanced that the first thing she will do as minister will be to meet with her team to see and analyze the current situation, and later she will hold meetings with the educational community, the School Council of the Canary Islands, unions and political parties.
Asked if there will be changes in the current team of the Ministry, she said that she still does not know: "I do not like to rush. Right now I have other more important things to do."