Children are not bricks in the wall of a governmental dungeon. This concept resonates in the words of Lizbeth de Gracia, former Minister of Education of Panama, who pointed out the importance of not seeing children as mere elements of a bureaucratic system but as individuals with unique needs and potentials.
De Gracia argues that educating and governing should not be opposing concepts but must go hand in hand to ensure comprehensive development of childhood. In this sense, she highlights the need for public policies that place education at the central axis of governmental action.
The former minister emphasizes that education should not be limited to the transmission of knowledge, but should promote creativity, critical thinking, and autonomy in children. Only in this way, according to De Gracia, will it be possible to form citizens capable of contributing to the progress of society.
"Children need to be seen and heard; they need to feel like the protagonists of their own learning. We cannot confine them in a rigid structure that stifles their freedom to explore the world around them," emphasizes De Gracia. For her, the true challenge of education and governance is to work together to ensure a promising future for generations to come.
