https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK9YDVjrBgg
“We are capable of innovating in education,” said Dr. Denise Vaillant. In the words of the dean of the Institute of Education at the Universidad ORT Uruguay, evidence and research show that, in all Latin American countries, there are“innovations with high potential.”
However, although there are examples of disruptive innovation in both the public and private sectors in Uruguay, the greatest challenge lies in scaling these policies and ensuring their sustainability over time.
Ceibal is a prime example of a policy that has stood the test of time.
During the panel discussion “In Focus: Citizenship and Education in the Future That Has Already Arrived,” Vaillant and Victoria Gadea—director of Ágora—reflected on how to foster responsible agents of change in the political sphere and in education. They also discussed the challenges posed by technological disruption to civic education and teaching.
Moderated by Marcela Dobal, director of Forbes Uruguay, Vaillant was asked about the role of the private sector in education. In her view, it should play an “active role.” She noted that, internationally, initiatives in this area have been in place since the 1990s. For example, sheserves on the Board of Directors of the Instituto Natura, a private-sector group working to improve education in Latin America.
On the other hand, he noted that in Uruguay, there are “few examples of sustained engagement by civil society and the business sector in education.” Although this is linked to cultural traditions, Vaillant believes it is an area where “there is much to be done.”
“The thing is, in Uruguay, there are three speeds: slow, very slow, and extremely slow.”
“Uruguay 20 or 30 years from now will depend on the education system we have today, so this is an issue that concerns us all,”stated Vaillant, who added that“teaching has lost its appeal.” It is not the young people with the best academic results or the greatest cultural capital who are enrolling in teacher training programs.
That is why Vaillant emphasized that improving the status of the teaching profession is a key issue that society must address: “All countries that have made significant progress in education have developed systematic, long-term policies to improve the status of the teaching profession.”
That is not solely the responsibility of the ministries of education or the ANEP. It must be understood as a problem facing society as a whole.
The Forbes Game Changers Summit highlighted innovation, creativity, and the opportunities the market offers for creating disruptive and distinctive products. It brought together entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and key players from various industries and took place on Thursday, November 23, at the Hyatt Centric hotel.