Juan Cadillo refers to the power that parents would have to give the green light to educational materials. He considers that his opinions should not be binding. He also talks about the Millennium Development Goals that seek quality education with values and scientific support.
What is the impact of the law that promotes the quality of educational materials and resources in Peru that Congress has just approved?
There are conservative groups that have a very strong ideological aspect, for example against the gender approach, gender equality, issues related to a more biblical, more Christian or any other approach. While the common parents do not have this type of relationship, then there would be a bias. Then, the norm is given so that all the documents prepared by the Ministry of Education have to go through the opinion of the parents. If one of these organizations says no, then the technical aspect would be pushed aside by an ideological aspect.
How should be the participation of parents in this issue?
Parents can express an opinion on the material, but it should not be binding.
What will happen to the gender equality approach and comprehensive sexual education?
The Ministry of Education has already indicated that in the gender approach men and women are equal, but until now there is no such conviction. And sex education is key, we cannot hide this reality. We have to know how to guide, to guide. There are maximalist people who see the issue starkly, let’s put it that way, but middle ground can be found. However, with these types of measures, if someone objects, the ministry would not be able to act.
What do you expect about it?
One, that the norm be observed by the Minister of Education. Two, that in the case of the materials a civil action be filed before the Constitutional Court to request that this rule be repealed because it threatens the delivery of scientific information.
Groups such as ‘Don’t mess with my children’ questioned some aspects of the materials on sex education. Is there something that can be corrected?
Sure, do a better review. The materials can be reviewed by the parents, receive their opinions and considering the filters that are in place, they could improve the texts. But not like that, just say that they don’t happen. One thing is to receive an opinion, value it and based on that opinion move forward, and in any case correct. I think that should be the mechanism and not a filter that cuts. Any material produced by the ministry would have to go through this type of organization.
The public policy of the sector in the management of the educational system is at risk…
Yes. There is a set of national and international policy guidelines. In other words, within the Millennium Development Goals we must have quality education and part of that quality education, although it is true that it considers values and ethical aspects, there is also the scientific part that could be relegated by an ideological aspect.
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Juan Cadillo: “Technical aspects would be relegated due to ideological aspects”