A recent statement by Senator Blanca Ovelar (Ph.D.) during a Paraguayan Senate meeting regarding the current state of academic education in Paraguay has caused a significant stir within civil society. This impact stems from two aspects: what she said and how she said it.
The content of Senator Ovelar's remarks was not only serious but also true. The combination of its seriousness and truth amplified its impact. It confirmed concerns that we all vaguely suspected but dared not fully accept as undeniable facts. Senator Blanca Ovelar painfully and clearly reconfirmed the reality we vaguely imagined and feared.
What was even more impressive was the manner in which she delivered the content: clear, unadorned, courageous, resolute, full of concern and conviction, and persuasive.
Her remarks are important because her long career, having served as Minister of Education and currently chairing the Senate Education Committee, supports their content.
The Senator's remarks go beyond simply describing the chaotic state of education at all academic and higher education levels in Paraguay. Her statements factually reconfirmed the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) evaluation, which ranked Paraguay as the second-lowest country in educational attainment internationally. Furthermore, she strongly criticized the immorality and unethical behavior that are destroying the national education system and pushing Paraguay into underdevelopment.
The Collapse of Education: A Portrait of a Nation Without a Future
Education is the foundation and bedrock for building the future of individuals and nations. Without robust, modern, and high-quality education, there is no future. Where is Paraguay headed with the current education system described by Senator Blanca Ovelar? The current state of education is the result of declining professionalism among educators and moral, social, and political regression.
The collapse of Paraguay's education system goes beyond merely falling grades. It encompasses the pervasive lack of competence among teachers, widespread corruption and inefficiency in educational administration. Educational finances are executed opaquely, and educational infrastructure is dilapidated. In rural areas, even basic educational facilities are lacking, and the educational gap between urban and rural areas is widening. These problems arise from a complex interplay of factors, including inadequate teacher training, an irrational system for teacher promotion and compensation, and a lack of professionalism in education policy-making processes.
Paraguay's chronic problems of high illiteracy rates and low rates of higher education completion clearly demonstrate the failure of its education system. In particular, the absence of technical education and vocational training is a major cause of high youth unemployment and hinders national economic development. These structural flaws in the education system darken Paraguay's future and are identified as key factors exacerbating the vicious cycle of poverty.
The Shadow of Moral Decay: A Gloomy Cloud Over Society
On June 12, 1974, the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) issued a pastoral letter titled "The Moral Purification of the Nation." This letter received significant support from civil society but was met with opposition and criticism from the Stroessner government authorities. Unfortunately, this pastoral letter did not achieve the desired effect, and the moral crisis continued.
The extent of the problem was so severe that in 2013, Alcibiades González Delvalle commented on this pastoral letter, saying, "From June 12, 1974, until now, we have irreversibly worsened."
We must acknowledge that over the past twelve years, the quantity and types of moral degradation have further increased. For example, there is ample evidence that bribery is rampant, no one seems to worry about violations of the constitution and laws, and it is an open secret that impunity is widespread.
Nevertheless, there have never been so many inmates in prisons, daily news features motorcycle robberies and juvenile delinquents, even murderers, and the number of sexual assaults and sexual abuses of minors has exploded. Agenda 2030's Goals 4 and 5, along with the vicious and murderous gender ideology, have infiltrated, and drugs are even being distributed in school meals. In short, there has been a significant increase not only in political and administrative corruption but also in various forms of immoral conduct.
The widespread moral decay in Paraguayan society is observed in several aspects:
Political and Administrative Corruption: Bribery, embezzlement of public funds, and abuse of power are chronic problems in Paraguayan politics. The lack of ethics among public officials deepens public distrust and undermines the efficiency of the national system. In recent years, high-ranking officials' corruption scandals have been continuously reported, leading to distrust in the judicial system.
Deficiencies in the Judicial System: Impunity is one of the biggest problems in Paraguay's judicial system. When legal violations are not properly punished, criminals disregard the law, which in turn leads to an increase in crime rates. Lenient penalties for serious crimes and corruption, in particular, hinder the realization of social justice.
Increased Crime Across Society: Motorcycle robberies, juvenile delinquency, and drug-related crimes are soaring. This increases social instability and threatens the safety of citizens. Drug trafficking, in particular, has infiltrated schools, emerging as a serious social problem. Drug dealing is linked to organized crime, presenting an even more complex picture, and drug addiction among youth poses a severe social and health threat.
Spread of Sexual Offenses: The increase in sexual violence, especially sexual abuse of minors, reveals a dark side of Paraguayan society. This problem stems from deficiencies in the child protection system, the absence of sex education, and a general lack of sexual awareness throughout society.
Ideological Confusion: Debates surrounding Agenda 2030 and gender ideology are causing social conflict. Attempts by certain ideologies to infiltrate the education system clash with traditional values, exacerbating social confusion.
History shows that even the most robust empires have collapsed due to moral decay.
Paraguay is currently laying the groundwork for becoming a marginalized and violent nation and will have no future unless it urgently reforms its education and eradicates moral decay. These two complex and urgent tasks demand the participation of the entire society and the entire nation under the guidance of a democratic and professional government.
Solutions for Paraguay's Future: Educational Reform and Moral Reconstruction
For Paraguay to overcome the current crisis and achieve sustainable development, it must simultaneously pursue two key tasks: educational reform and moral reconstruction.
1. Educational Reform:
Strengthen Teacher Competency: Improve the quality of teacher training programs and establish continuous professional development programs for in-service teachers to enhance their expertise. Provide reasonable compensation systems and promotion opportunities to boost teacher morale.
Expand and Modernize Educational Infrastructure: Improve dilapidated school facilities and build an education environment that utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) to provide quality education. Invest especially in educational facilities in rural areas to bridge the educational gap.
Revise Curricula: Revise curricula to keep pace with changing times and strengthen education that fosters 21st-century core competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Expand vocational education and technical training programs to help young people acquire the skills needed in the actual labor market.
Transparent and Efficient Educational Administration: Ensure transparency in the execution of educational finances and eliminate inefficiencies in educational administration to prevent waste of educational resources. Strengthen anti-corruption systems to eradicate irregularities within the education system.
Achieve Educational Equity: Provide more educational opportunities for marginalized and vulnerable students and increase access to education. Strive to ensure all students receive a fair education by expanding scholarship programs and strengthening special education support.
2. Moral Reconstruction:
Strong Government Will: The government must demonstrate a strong commitment to eradicating corruption and establishing the rule of law. The exemplary behavior of high-ranking public officials will have a positive impact on the public. Strengthen anti-corruption policies and strictly enforce relevant laws.
Judicial System Reform: Strengthen the independence and fairness of the judicial system and end the culture of impunity. Punish corrupt judicial officials and increase the transparency of judicial procedures.
Empower Civil Society: Civil society organizations must actively play a role in monitoring corruption, protecting human rights, and achieving social justice. Ensure freedom of the press and create an environment where critical voices can be heard.
Strengthen Moral Education: Strengthen ethics and moral education in school curricula to instill sound values in future generations. Efforts to cultivate moral values are also needed in homes and local communities.
Foster Social Responsibility: Emphasize social responsibility for businesses and individuals and encourage transparent and ethical behavior. Foster a sense of community by promoting a culture of giving and increasing participation in volunteer activities.
International Cooperation: International support and cooperation can strengthen efforts for educational reform and corruption eradication. Collaborate with international organizations to introduce advanced education systems and seek advice on anti-corruption policies.
Paraguay's future depends on its current choices. Facing a complex crisis of severe collapse in its education system and widespread moral decay in society, Paraguay stands at a critical juncture. However, a crisis can also be an opportunity. If strong leadership, voluntary public participation, and international support are harmonized, Paraguay can overcome its current difficulties and move towards a better future. Will Paraguay choose the right path at this crucial moment and turn the crisis into an opportunity?
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