translated from Spanish: Minister Figueroa defended overtaking of winter holidays

One of the measures to counteract the spread of Covid-19 is the suspension of classes in all schools and kindergartens which will be until April 27, but the last two weeks correspond to the winter holidays. The decision to advance the winter holidays for April has been a target of criticism from the College of Teachers, among other orgaizations. The Minister of Education, Raúl Figueroa, defended this measure and sent a letter to directors of the establishments where he appreciates adapting to this new situation” and continued with distance learning “with all the challenges that it entails”. As far as the measure stated that “under no circumstances does the challenge of living this period of social isolation” know the challenge of living” and that it “has a deep look rightly inspired by the well-being of the entire school system.” “This period of remote learning has been a huge challenge for which we would have wanted more time to adapt, prepare and reflect,” Figueroa said, too, adding that “it has been a constant debate of how much emotional stress a home learning process can generate and how available the tools that allow it are,” he said. In this same vein, he stated that “it is then, this holiday period a valuable time to take a break and reflect on what is walked.” Finally, Figueroa assured that the “most important learning for our children is achieved in the classroom, as he stated that “while, in a normal year the optimal is to have ordered periods of time of classes, separated by breaks (semesters or quarters with their respective holidays), it is also our duty, as responsible for guiding the country in educational matters in educational matters , to make it clear that in the current circumstances it is essential to give as much continuity as possible to the face-to-face process of classes, once it is restored.”

Original source in Spanish