Venezuela reassigns students after June earthquakes
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Héctor Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Minister of Education, reported that at least 86,031 students have been reassigned to schools after earthquakes on June 24th damaged or destroyed educational facilities.
The earthquakes caused 11 schools to collapse and left 87 with structural damage, prompting the ministry to move students to safe, nearby schools to continue their education.
Rodríguez explained that “rezoning” involves placing children in the closest school that is safe, which may mean attending a school in a different community or shifting to a different time of day to accommodate more students. The government plans to rebuild or expand schools in areas where people remain, ensuring continued access to education. However, organizations like Cecodap and Redhnna have raised concerns about returning to classes without adequate planning.
Their report, based on assessments of schools in La Guaira, Caracas, and Miranda, found that 27.3% of evaluated schools had severe structural damage and another 33.3% had areas that were closed or unusable. The Venezuelan Federation of Teachers also cautioned that the return to school should prioritize safe conditions and address teachers’ labor rights, including fair wages and psychosocial support for students affected by the earthquakes.
