Return to classrooms, although in poor condition, is preferred in provinces where computers and internet are lacking

The lack of computers or cell phones, in some cases, the poor signal or total absence of internet service, in others, make parents in various provinces of the country consider the decision to return to classrooms in person, although the return is not in adequate conditions.

In Manabí, Adelaida Morán has her four children studying at two schools in the Sancán community, Jipijapa canton, and considers that it is appropriate for them to return to the classroom because in that community, lacking services such as drinking water and sewerage, the internet does not reach.

Knowing the shortcomings of educational establishments is a challenge for teachers, says Kemi Loor, president of the National Union of Educators (UNE) in Manabí, where the

80% of the 2,172 existing educational establishments in this province would have problems in their infrastructure, according to the leader, who requests that the facilities of several schools be reviewed before starting face-to-face classes from November 22, as approved by the Committee of Emergency Operations (COE) following the request of the Ministry of Education.

In Manabí, where 643 of the 2,172 existing educational institutions have returned to classes in a blended way (representing 29.60% of the total), some parents have begun to carry out self-management activities to make improvements in the schools that have problems in the bathrooms or in another part of their structures.

“We as UNE agree with the return to classes because it really is a necessity, but we also demand vaccination, because the second dose of students nationwide only reaches 36%,” said Loor.

Franklin Mera Zavala, zonal coordinator 4 of the Ministry of Education, in an interview with radio Sono Onda de Portoviejo, pointed out that currently there are all the facilities for students to return to classes.

This zonal coordination has made an investment in infrastructure in Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, for 1.8 million dollars and another 660,000 dollars in the acquisition of furniture.

For the return of students, each campus must have approved the Institutional Educational Continuity Plan (PICE), which will only be given if the facility has everything in optimal condition.

Students who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus will be able to return to the presence

In this province, where 413,078 students were enrolled for this school year, only 42,269 are already blended, that is, they go to classes on certain days and not others. But according to the Ministry of Education, this hybrid form will not be possible from a progressive return, at least not in the prosecutors. Individuals, if they wish to do so, will have to request the corresponding extension permit for the online service.

In Los Ríos, where there are 825 public educational establishments, only 50 establishments have approved the PICE, that is, they are the only ones so far authorized to receive students in person.

The district director of Education Quevedo-Mocache, Bolívar Yépez, maintains that some establishments, due to the same abandonment in which they were due to the pandemic, have suffered deterioration, but assures that they will be repaired, since in recent days a meeting was held with the governor of Los Ríos, Génesis Blum, and the rectors of all the fiscal educational units of the province to coordinate the adjustments.

But “according to the results of the approval sheets of the parents (sent before the return to classes is mandatory), the majority agreed with the progressive return to the classrooms.”

Claudia Figueroa, a mother who says that she has found that the classrooms, bathrooms and other spaces are not suitable for use in her son’s school, proposes to “do some minga” or that the State designate materials and a budget for the arrangements and provide potable water to the bathrooms and sinks, for the hygiene of the students.

In Machala, meanwhile, it is expected that approximately six thousand students from public and private schools will return to face-to-face classes from next November 22.

In the capital of El Oro, 41 schools are currently authorized to receive students at specific times.

At the provincial level, there are 259 public and private schools that have approved plans (PICE) for the return to face-to-face classes. In other words, they are able to receive the 21,700 students they have enrolled.

In the province of Loja the figure is 712 authorized schools, of which 32,328 students will return to classes. (I)