Minister denies privatization plans for schools

Education unions are incorrect in their statements that there are any plans to privatize the system said Education Minister Lucy Molinar on Tuesday, Dec 12.

Molinar said that the unions are planning a one-day strike for Wednesday but  claims the reasons they have given are false.

She said the changes planned by the ministry are aimed at "making things better, and to change toward excellence."

She denied that parents will have to pay extra for education, and said the major change is to create an academic council for each school to focus on each student, in order to detect weaknesses in time.

She also denied that job instability of educators is sought with the change.

"Everybody has to be assessed," Molinar said. She emphasized that the self-assessment model was not effective because "nobody gave a bad evaluation."

Eight unions are planning a march on Wednesday afternoon to protest the changes, which they say is aimed at privatizing the system.