The Secretary of Education, Carlos Torrendell, indicated that the budget assigned to his area for the next year will reach 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), recovering the investment level of 2012. During his presentation to the Budget and Finance committee to discuss the 2025 Budget, Torrendell emphasized that the comparison between budgets made with debt and issuance, and those made with zero deficit, is unfair and cannot be taken into account.
The official highlighted that the assigned budget reflects a paradigm shift in the government's educational policy, focusing on an education that guarantees real learning for all, instead of an abstract conception. He stressed the importance of intelligent resource management to enhance learning and achieve equity in outcomes.
Torrendell pointed out the need to focus on literacy in basic and compulsory education, especially considering that 60% of children are below the poverty line. He emphasized the implementation of policies like One More Hour and extended school days, with particular attention to literacy, aiming to provide more time in schools to improve learning.
Regarding connectivity, he mentioned that there is a goal to strengthen the availability of an online system to provide information to officials, provinces, and at the national level, which is reflected in the Budget. He also referred to the need for equitable distribution of resources in education to avoid inequality.
On the other hand, he stressed the importance of intelligent investment of the resources allocated to education, avoiding dispersion and ensuring their efficient use. Torrendell highlighted the necessity of accountability to assess the impact of investments, especially in technology, on learning.
In the field of higher education, a significant investment in universities is anticipated, with thorough tracking of student pathways to ensure their effective graduation. Additionally, it was mentioned that university expenses have increased compared to previous years, prioritizing strengthening higher education.
Regarding salary policy in the education sector, the importance of dialogue with unions and universities was noted, within the framework of the government's "zero deficit" premise. The need for intelligent investment to strengthen educational quality and improve learning was emphasized, ensuring efficient management of the allocated resources.
