Encuentro Con pedagogical 2011

This year, the meeting was fixed with 15 stands, plus a mobile art studio classroom. All with the purpose of showing the activities conducted at the School of Teacher through classroom workshops, training routes and other allies.

The Yellow Pavilion Plaza Mayor was the meeting place for the educational community of Medellin for the fifth version of the Encuentro, a space for reflection and discussion on improving the quality of education, pedagogic innovation and implementation of new learning environments .

Master School teachers and administrators called to live this experience through online communications and visits to educational centers and institutions.

The day began on Thursday November 17 at 9 am with workshops, lectures and talks in five classrooms, dedicated to the teaching of language, the potential development of teachers, the teaching of science, systematic investigation of the pedagogical practices and meaningful learning experiences of teachers in classroom research.

Little scientists

Such is the case of the program implemented by the Universidad de los Andes and the Ministry of Education of Medellin called "Little Scientists", which seeks to renew the teaching and learning of science experiment at school, through the Teaching Strategy Teaching Inquiry-Based Science (ECBI).

Claudia Vasquez, Program Coordinator, explained that this strategy, with nearly 20 years, was endorsed by several Nobel prizes in the world and is part of the education policy of France.

"In Colombia reached 10 years ago. It began with training for teachers to replicate the experiences, which are 1 to 2 years, a whole plan of training and professional development very well supported. In Antioquia came 5 years ago and is administered by the School of Engineering of Antioquia "he says.

On arrival in Medellin, the program implemented the working tool "Discovery Box", a series of activities, experiments and games in electricity, energy, environment and health, developed by the Siemens Foundation in Germany.

Cardona Dew, Project Coordinator, University of Los Andes, explains that the schools in the cities can be also with the traditional tools of the program, which were developed in the United States also makes an invitation to teachers and principals to to join this cause to teach through inquiry, for which to develop new training sessions next year.

"Human beings learn by doing, observing, manipulating, making mistakes, making do is a natural human being, and what better way to learn science than doing and experiencing. The call for teachers is to give children the opportunity to learn from a learned differently than us, it was chalk and board "concluded Dew Cardona.

57 public schools and 211 teachers in the city have benefeciado of the partnership between the Siemens Foundation, the Ministry of Education of Medellin and the University of the Andes. 

200 business leaders recognized for their contribution to education

Over the past 8 years his work has helped to build a city that commitment to education as the main engine of development.

"Thanks for helping us build a more educated Medellin" was the message from the Secretary of Education, Felipe Andrés Gil, the thanksgiving ceremony held in the Auditorium of the University Founders Eafit.

At the event representatives were present Proantioquia, the private sector, and rectors of public and private universities of Medellin who have joined in the last 2 administrations to this alliance for the benefit of education.

Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad Eafit, the newspaper El Colombiano, Medellin Metro Chamber of Commerce of Medellin, among others, were the companies, organizations and recognized universities.

In this pact for education, are 215 organizations that have taken up the challenge of sponsoring 190 educational institutions in programs such as Quality Schools and Colleges for Equality and Coexistence.

Against this, the Secretary of Education noted that the support of one or more sectors of the city in this model of voluntary cooperation has allowed that to date 100 percent of the programs referred to in line 2 of the Development Plan, which Medellin is known as the most educated, have significant results.

"All you have invested in the city that believes in education from infancy through adulthood. You should be proud, for example, of the 97 thousand children the opportunities they have given the Healthy Start program, "said Andres Felipe Gil Barrera to the honorees.

A work of all

The ceremony was a pretext to reflect human value education as the responsibility of all sectors of society, because among other things, whether the public sector and social malfunctions, the private has no future. 

It is therefore evoked the Spanish philosopher and writer Fernando Savater, who says that for many African cultures child's education depends on every tribe and therefore "the whole tribe of Medellin must be committed to the education of its citizens."

Reflection on David Bojanini consistent, Chairman of the Sura, who believes that education "is the duty of all citizens" and therefore this work of social responsibility in education is a natural extension of the private sector.

What is clear is that this public-private joint should not be done from the handouts, but from the capacity building support to guide citizens towards building a more competitive city. This is the private sector contribution of their strengths and not to replace the state between.

"We created more and better opportunities for quality education and always have a private sector company," the Secretary of Education of Medellin, who extended his appreciation to the public for their belief in education as a long-term bet.

This commitment begins to bear fruit and will become more apparent every day, why Andres Felipe Gil Barrera finally invited the 200 business leaders to feel proud to be part of the new history of Medellín, Colombia's most educated .

Debate on the Universities Act

At its first ordinary session of the year, the 98 members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, 65 of the Bureau of Democratic Unity and 2 of the Homeland for All now live in Parliament agreed on something.

All legislators agreed yesterday to lift the sanction of the Law on Higher Education (LEU), the same that was approved by the National Assembly early last Dec. 23 and subsequently was vetoed by the president, Hugo Chavez.

Before taking this decision unanimously, the secretary of the AN, Ivan Zerpa, read the statement sent by Chavez which objected to the rule. There, the President stated that, as drafted, the LEU is inapplicable "and emphasized that the development of this legal tool requires" more consultation and popular participation. "

Heard the opinion of the Head of State, Deputy Hector Navarro (PSUV-Miranda) began the debate by ensuring that the presidential veto of the LEU shows that the AN is independent of the National Executive.

Highlighting the abuses suffered by the universities in the past, Navarro stressed that now more than 2 million Venezuelans in higher education.

For the opposition, Leomagno Flores (AD-Tachira) held the failure to enact the text. "This law was unconstitutional, sought to wrest autonomy," complained Flores, who pleaded for "a university open to all currents of thought." The representative of the MUD announced that support the bill sponsored by Assembly University of Education, which is backed by over 40 thousand signatures.

Luis Acuna (PSUV-Sucre) closed the discussion stating what are the points that Chavez is not ready to review. "We will not waver in admission to universities without restrictions and the possibility that the entire university community is entitled to elect the authorities," he said Acuna, who added: "We want people to participate in the formation of his talent human. " That said, it is again opened the debate.