De la Espriella announces first cabinet change after education minister resigns

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

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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.

De la Espriella said he had accepted her resignation effective Sept. 7. In a letter made public alongside her resignation, he expressed regret but praised what he described as a decision guided by love, responsibility and integrity. Morales took office on Aug. 7, immediately after the president was sworn in and installed his cabinet in Cali.

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

Her appointment had drawn strong criticism because of her religious convictions. Fecode, Colombia's largest education union, viewed the selection as part of the cultural battle De la Espriella promised during his campaign. During her three weeks in office, Morales also confronted the education crisis caused by the Aug. 10 earthquake, which damaged 4,287 schools and left thousands of children and adolescents without access to education in the worst-hit areas.

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As President of the Republic, I accept your resignation. I do so with regret, but also with the deep respect deserved by a decision made from the love, responsibility and integrity that have always characterized you.

Many students remained out of classrooms and could not use online lessons proposed by the government because they lacked devices and internet access. Morales also reignited a debate over what some groups call “gender ideology” after saying on Aug. 20 that a “woke campaign had introduced a number of subtle movements to take over teaching and the education of children, especially the comprehensive sex education program.” Hoyos, her replacement, previously served as a prosecutor’s delegate for family and children during Alejandro Ordóñez’s tenure from 2009 to 2016.

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