The educational leader Humberto Montero criticized the recent plan of the Ministry of Education (Meduca) to acquire computers intended for students and teachers, considering that this ambitious program ignores urgent infrastructure needs that affect the day-to-day operations of educational institutions. Montero warned about the lack of planning and organization in the distribution of resources, expressing that there are other priorities that should be addressed before implementing a project of this magnitude.
"Since July, when the minister assumed office, we have seen that her projects are ambitious, but the important thing is how the budget allocated to her, mostly during the previous administration, will be executed. We need clarity on how that budget will be distributed so that it really impacts in priority areas," Montero stated.
The leader lamented that, while the delivery of computers is promoted, there are schools without minimum conditions to make use of the technology. According to him, in many schools, there aren’t even adequate computer rooms, sufficient computers, much less specialists in computer science to teach classes in this area. For Montero, before introducing a large-scale technological project, it is essential to create the necessary infrastructure, which includes the installation of computer, biology, and chemistry laboratories, in addition to ensuring internet access in all educational centers.
The MEDUCA proposal includes an investment of 241 million dollars and the distribution of more than 650,000 computers, under a purchase agreement that, according to Montero, is defended by the minister due to the supposed cost savings. However, the leader questioned this argument, emphasizing that the value of each computer is around 359 dollars, a price that could increase with maintenance and supply costs.
"While minimizing costs is sought, it is necessary to analyze whether these computers will actually meet the needs of the students, especially in areas with infrastructure deficiencies," Montero pointed out. Another point he mentioned was connectivity, criticizing the internet coverage in the country and recalling that during the pandemic many students were excluded from virtual education due to a lack of adequate devices and internet access.
He also referred to the internet project in schools implemented during the Martinelli administration, a program that, according to the leader, has become "Internet for nobody." Montero insisted that the computer program, although ambitious, is misfocused if the priorities of the education system are not aligned, and he urged the minister to prioritize the most needed areas and ensure that the impact of Meduca’s budget is maximized for the benefit of the students, addressing the structural urgencies that, according to him, are the true foundation for quality education in the country.
