GUSTAVO MENDEZ
EL UNIVERSAL
 
President Hugo Chávez Frías asserted already. Revolution will be consolidated in 2005. This is the ongoing trend in all government areas. Education is not the exception. Based on "regulations" and projects, indoctrination is plainly proposed with the involvement of teachers "committed to the process" -in the case of elementary and secondary education- and gradual control of universities under the Ministry of Higher Education (MES).
 
The government move is not new. Decree 1,001; the attempts at changing pre-military education and social sciences; implementation of Robinson and Ribas missions, and a parallel program of teachers' training are part of a recent listing that seems to replace the current domestic educational doctrine with a single vision. According to this vision, only those in line with the revolution will teach. Under the principles of "participation," "equity," "Bolivarian ideal," "community task," it seems that domestic teaching is intended to be standardized.
 
Education by and for Chávez
Surely enough, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MED) is working on implementation of the revolution. The paper "Proposals to define educational policies related to the admission of acting personnel as regular teachers under MED" clarifies the need for "political training" to become a regular teacher and "reeducating" university graduates, "in order to implement and execute state social action programs under the leadership of Commander Chávez."
 
Furthermore, the paper proposes free removal and assessment of headmasters, assistant headmasters and supervisors by the local community and school members. This initiative is based on the Cuban experience, and calls for the incorporation of the highest number of teachers "with a minimum commitment" and the defense of "conquered" spaces.
 
Rafael Chacón, the head of the MED Autonomous Institutes and an author of the blueprint, clarified that the paper published in El Universal is "a draft. Free removal of authorities was taken out. Now, therefore, political training remained unchanged as we noted that teachers have weaknesses concerning the Bolivarian vision of education. This is not an ideological course, but a general course under the Bolivarian Constitution and the projects advanced by the Ministry, such as 'Simoncito' Bolivarian high schools and university villages."
 
On the contrary, José Luis Farías, the Vice-President of the National Assembly Commission of Education, Culture and Sports, labeled the official policy as "junk education."
 
"Article 78 of the Education Organic Law is clear. Only a diploma and conditions for teaching, such as suitability and responsibility are needed, and this is intended to be replaced with a political-religious training course." He also criticized the school "lobbying" with the community involvement in assessment and appointment of teachers. "This will just turn schools into political sectors."
 
Teachers' clearance
Edgar Bazán, the president of the Venezuelan Teachers' Association, warned about new requirements. "They are for administrative control of the positions and an election and political manipulation of teachers." The leader demanded from Education and Sports Minister Aristóbulo Istúriz compliance with effective rules and regulations, including the Rules on Teaching Practice.
 
On his part, Vicente Romero, president of the Venezuelan Federation of Schools and Professional Teachers (Fenatev), warned against teachers' standardization, as only government supporters would be incorporated. "Under MED courses, only indoctrinated personnel will be admitted. Undoubtedly, those who run counter to Chávezism will be out."
 
Orlando Alzuru, the president of the Venezuelan Teachers' Federation regretted that most current school directors were named for backing the government. "Such practice may be extended to acting teachers. All in all, the government tries to prevent the establishment of the National Classifying Board."
 
The policy of terror
Teachers are also concerned about the request for information by educational zones. In central Miranda state, agency head Aníbal Istúriz sent a communication last February 21 asking for information on students' addresses and personal data.
 
Professor Raquel Figueroa views it as a terror campaign. "Schools get these data during enrollment and they send them to the MED. They do that in order to strike fear for a potential intervention into the whole population." Vicente Romero shares this position. In his opinion, the MED tries to conduct a census to exert pressure on teachers and schools, in an attempt at taking full control by means of supervision."
 
Super Ministry
Last Sunday, February 20, the university community learned from the amendment to the Ministry of Higher Education (MES) Organic Rules and Regulation, or "Decree 3,444," published in the official gazette special issue No. 5,758. Universities view such changes as a clear violation to the Constitution, because the capacities of the National Council of Universities (CNU) and university autonomy are captured.
 
The new powers include the approval of careers, faculties and transfer courses, bidding processes, and curriculum changes based on the new national situation, among others.
 
According to Vice-Minister of Academic Policies Andrés Eloy Ruiz, neither the CNU nor universities have been deprived from any powers. "MES duties and responsibilities were delegated to OPSU (Planning Office of the University Sector) while the new ministry was reinforced. Three years have elapsed and things need to be in place."
 
OPSU former director Luis Fuenmayor Toro argued that the rules and regulations "cannot supersede the Universities Law. In case of fitting the rule into the Constitution, then, we should wait for the new law. Article 109 is clear about universities duties and responsibilities."
 
Fuemayor Toro dismissed any threat to university autonomy, but he clarified that the uncertain nature of the rule may lead to potential standardization of universities.
 
Total defense
Rita Añez, the president of the Venezuelan Association of University Presidents (Averu) and president of the Experimental Western University (Unexpo), thinks that Decree 3,444 is "awkward." Current rules were not observed and there are duplicated functions and serious inaccuracies.
 
Añez announced the approval by Averu of a petition to abrogate the amendment at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. "We also are getting ready to defend autonomy through forums with the participation of all universities and their communities," she pointed out.
 
In the face of the rules that, as appears from their contents, are aimed at political-ideological control in teaching, a number of protests have been planned to safeguard inviolable principles.
gmendez@eluniversal.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado