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Indigenous School in Repatriación is Abandoned and Without a Director
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Indigenous School in Repatriación is Abandoned and Without a Director

From ABC Color · (12m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Cacique Eusebio Benítez Basic School in the indigenous community of Ñu Hovy is practically abandoned by the Ministry of Education and Sciences, lacking a director and adequate facilities.
  • With 61 students, the school has only two classrooms, forcing students from different grades to share spaces, and essential infrastructure like the latrine and kitchen are in disrepair.
  • Teachers and parents are struggling to maintain the school, appealing to local and departmental authorities for assistance, while the MEC claims no formal complaint has been received.

Repatriación, Paraguay – The Cacique Eusebio Benítez Basic School, located in the indigenous Ñu Hovy community, stands as a stark symbol of neglect by the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC). This institution, serving 61 students, is in a state of abandonment, critically lacking a director and essential infrastructure. The situation is dire, with students from multiple grades crammed into just two dilapidated classrooms, highlighting a severe disparity in educational resources.

Teachers and parents are shouldering the burden, working voluntarily and using their own resources to keep the school operational. The deplorable conditions of the latrine, with no roof and a barely functioning toilet, and a precarious wooden kitchen, underscore the urgent need for intervention. As Catalino Sosa, a teacher at the school, stated, "The sanitary is in deplorable condition, it has no roof and the toilet barely works, thanks to temporary repairs made by teachers and parents." This is not just about buildings; it's about the dignity and future of the indigenous children who dream of equal opportunities.

In the area of seccional 12, we all know each other. There are no strangers here: there are friends who know who has always been there.

— Arnaldo SamaniegoDuring a campaign walk in the San Vicente neighborhood, highlighting his connection to the community.

Despite promises of support, such as the 'Tejiendo Apoyos para la Excelencia Educativa (TAPE) 2023-2028' project, no action has been taken for two years. The community's plea for assistance from the local municipality, the Caaguazú Governorate, and the MEC has so far gone unanswered. The MEC's director for the department, Ariel López, stated that they would request a report, as no formal complaint had been received, a response that, from our perspective at ABC Color, seems to sidestep the evident reality on the ground.

This situation is a critical issue for Paraguay, reflecting a broader challenge in ensuring equitable access to education for indigenous communities. The community's desire to be treated "like any other Paraguayan" and have equal opportunities is being undermined by systemic neglect. The failure to provide basic educational facilities is not just an administrative oversight; it is a violation of fundamental rights and a barrier to the social and economic integration of the Ñu Hovy community.

I leave this walk with a heart full of gratitude and with the renewed commitment not to fail them. Thank you for so much affection. We leave here with more strength.

— Arnaldo SamaniegoExpressing his feelings after the campaign event and reaffirming his commitment to the voters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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