Bolivian Government determines the closure of the 2020 school year

Credit: CARLOS MAMANI / AFP via Getty Images

(CNN Spanish) - The Minister of the Bolivian Presidency, Yerko Núñez, announced this Sunday the closure of the 2020 school year in the country, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of conditions to reach virtual education with the entire territory national.

"The government of President Jeanine Áñez announces the closure of educational management 2020 for the regular education subsystem at its initial, primary and secondary levels of tax, private and agreement education," he said at a press conference.

Núñez pointed out that there will be no failing students and that all the students in the subsystem will go to the next level.

«The salary of teachers in the public area will continue to be paid despite the fact that there are teacher unions and political organizations that want classroom classes to be held, seriously putting the health and lives of our children at risk. Therefore, there will be no classroom classes, but there will also be no virtual classes, there is no other way out than to close the school year, "he said.

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The measure taken by the government, Núñez justified, is due to the "unfortunate technological delay resulting from the last decades", adding that this period will be dedicated to the expansion of the fiber optic network, satellite signal and the internet, equipment provision technology and signing agreements between the national, departmental and municipal governments to ensure access to the network.

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"We all know that during these 14 years of economic boom, the previous government did not invest in improving these internet systems, we have not been able to enter modern times and we regret very much that in the provinces, in many sectors of the country there is no internet and therefore classes cannot be passed and that is also why the decision has been made to close the school year, ”he added.

The provision will take effect from Monday, August 3.

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