Dozens of parents from the metropolitan area came today, Saturday, to Calle Fortaleza in Old San Juan to demonstrate against the temporary closure of schools that various scientific groups have recommended before returning in the COVID-19 cases they face.
The group, called “Open Schools Now,” reached the outskirts of the Executive Mansion around 10:00 a.m., and among the spokesmen argued that education, being a constitutional right, should be the last institution to stop providing services. .
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[AHORA] The group called “Open Schools Now” is demonstrating in front of Fortaleza Street against the temporary closure of schools due to the high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Puerto Rico.
Posted by Metro Puerto Rico on Saturday, April 10, 2021
“Many of these children have lost their happiness and have had a lot of psychological damage and a lot of psychological damage. They have stopped being children and the only place they can be is in schools. It’s to share with people their age,” he said. group spokesperson, Carmen Teresa Tergaalso mother of three children.
“We respect the protocol, but we understand that it needs to be revised,” he added in a conversation with Puerto Rico Metro.
In turn, Lumy Mangual, the mother of a six-year-old boy, also said that the closure of schools cannot be justified when there are still open economic sectors.
“We have to follow President Biden’s guidelines when he said that schools, especially education, are an essential service. Teachers have been vaccinated here, acknowledging that they are essential workers, but they have failed to discuss,” he said.
The demonstration continued until noon, with children carrying books that read phrases such as “we want to go to school”, “I don’t want school on the computer” and “we are a priority”.
“We do not give priority to children and we do not give priority to education,” Mangual added.
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Similarly, Felipe Albors, a fourth-year student at Saint John’s School, said he felt abandoned by the government after the institution announced its return to virtual courses after the “spring break.”
“The saddest aspect of this pandemic was the closure of schools. We, 4th graders, spent our entire lives waiting for this moment not only to graduate, but to live in the fourth year. All the memories, all the preparation for university, and we get there and see how society opens up aspects of the economy … and leaves us behind, “the young man told the press.
“While students are left behind, we cannot live what is the fourth year, we feel abandoned by this government and we are outraged,” he said.