Colombian president names first cabinet replacement after education minister resigns

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has made the first change to his cabinet after Education Minister Viviane Morales resigned less than a month after taking office. Morales said an unexpected family situation required her immediate attention.

De la Espriella said he had accepted her resignation effective Sept. 7 and appointed Ilva Myriam Hoyos as national education minister. Hoyos previously served as a delegated prosecutor for family and children’s affairs during Alejandro Ordóñez’s tenure.

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Today I am appointing Dr. Ilva Myriam Hoyos as Minister of National Education. Her character, strength, honesty and firm defense of values precede her.

Morales took office on Aug. 7 and faced criticism over her religious convictions. The National Federation of Educators, Fecode, viewed her appointment as part of the cultural battle De la Espriella promised during his campaign.

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An unexpected family situation demands my presence and my full attention immediately.

During her brief tenure, Morales also confronted the education crisis caused by the Aug. 10 earthquake. The disaster damaged 4,287 educational centers, leaving thousands of children and teenagers without schooling in the worst-hit areas. Many students still lacked access to both classrooms and virtual lessons because they did not have equipment or internet connections.

Morales further reignited a dispute over what some groups call “gender ideology.” On Aug. 20, she told journalists that a “woke” campaign had inserted subtle movements into education, particularly comprehensive sex education. De la Espriella praised Morales in his resignation message, saying her decision reflected love, responsibility and integrity.

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There has been a woke campaign that has introduced a number of subtle movements to take control of teaching and the education of children, especially in the comprehensive sex education program.