A Shining Star

Earlier this week, U.S Education Secretary Arne Duncan spoke at the Puerto Rico Education Summit regarding the urgent need for the island to improve the quality of its public school system. In his speech, he highlighted some important factors, which includes "embracing innovation, academic rigor, accountability, and effective strategies for accelerating learning for all students." He used The School of San Juan as an example, given that it was one out of hundreds of schools worldwide to be selected into Microsoft's Partner in Learning program. Two of the things that make The San Juan School so unique, besides the fact that it's a bilingual public school, is the existence of a pre-school program and its 7:30AM-5PM schedule.

Studies have shown that children who were enrolled in pre-school programs, compared to those who didn't, have higher incomes, attain a higher education level and are less likely to be involved in criminal activity when they become adults. This is particularly true for children who come from poverty-stricken homes. Nowadays, most local and state governments are spending more money building and maintaining prisons rather than investing in establishing pre-schools. The controversial Head Start program exists in Puerto Rico though.

While much attention has been given to the dilapidated conditions in many public schools throughout the island, the U.S Department of Education announced a $153 million grant to remodel an estimated 63 schools, not enough focus has been given on teacher performance and school curriculum. I live near a public high school, as well as a private one. Those who attend the former are probably in class no more than six hours a day, while those in the latter group less than five hours a day. As for the number of school days, I can say with much confidence, that for most of the island's schoolchildren, it is nowhere near those of top academic performing countries such as Singapore and South Korea.

In discussing how Puerto Rico can improve its public education system, Education Secretary Duncan did not bring up the issue of charter schools. This can largely be attributed to the huge resistance from the teacher's unions, as expected. Governor Fortuño, a strong supporter of public-private partnerships, has also gone craven when the topic of charter schools emerges. As local educators and government officials look for ways to overhaul the island's public school system, perhaps they should emulate The School of San Juan model. Much is at stake when it comes to the continuing laggard performance of schoolchildren, which speaks volumes on the island's future.

Note: The image above was obtained from the official Web site of the City of San Juan.

A Matter of Inequality

"Truthfuly, we need a social transformation that comes from the bottom-up" said Gov. Fortuño, in response to the wave of violence in which almost 100 people have been murdered in the first month of the new year. In January 2010, there were a total of 76 murders. The government alone cannot solve the issue of crime, according to Fortuño. The root of the problem, said the Governor, is the lack of values. In order to come up with a solution, the Governor has organized a gathering of representatives from non-profit organizations, religious leaders and government officials. Dialogue certainly does no harm, but if Fortuño is serious in attacking many of the island's societal ills, he must pay closer attention to something more consequential: income inequality.

An article published in ReVista, the Harvard Review of Latin America, it is estimated that the top 15% of the wealthiest households control 60% of the island's income. This egregious disparity is comparable to those of other Latin American countries. On the cover article of the latest issue of The Economist, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor is cited as "one of the main global risks" in a survey conducted at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland. An obvious solution, as mentioned in the article, is to invest in education and other programs which would help lift low to middle income households up. It is no secret that the island's public education system is in tatters. At a cafeteria which I often frequent, on many occasions, I have seen a boy of about 12 years old managing the cash register during lunch hour. I asked him why he wasn't in school, and he said because the teacher didn't show up.

I simply can't imagine anything more important for a country's future than Education, which has always been a tool for upward social mobility. Unsurprisingly, the countries with the highest math and reading test scores are found in Asia and Europe. These countries have obtained the greatest economic growth and achieved higher standards of living. Perhaps, as Gov. Fortuño says, government should not be seen as a panacea. However, when 58% of the island's criminals are high school dropouts, the government must re-evaluate and re-direct resources to areas in which a true "social transformation" can take place.

(Image obtained from The Economist)

Failing Public Schools

The Department of Education of Puerto Rico has had three different secretaries in less than two years. From crumbling school buildings to corrupt officials, the turmoil facing the public education system on the island is nothing new. Furthermore, it is also in danger of losing federal funding since less than 50% of public school students passed the standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) this past school year. In order to avoid this scenario, all students must pass the Spanish and mathematics exams by 2014. The island's public education system received an estimated $727 million in federal money last year.

Should Puerto Rico lose federal funding for its public schools, those who stand to lose the most would obviously be its students, many of whom come from lower-income families. Some of the reasons why the island's Department of Education is in such dire straits can be attributed to the lack of strong leadership and vision, poor management, and friction between the teacher's union and the administration. According to the Website of Sapientis, a non-profit organization working to improve Puerto Rico's public education system, 78% of public school students are not proficient in mathematics, and about 60% are not performing at grade level in neither Spanish nor English. The interim Secretary of Education, Jesús Rivera, is currently facing senate hearings on his confirmation. Unfortunately, his prospects look quite dim. Meanwhile, for most families who can afford it, the best solution is to enroll children in a private school, usually a Catholic school.

In Puerto Rico, unlike the U.S, a private school education is not considered to be elitist, or something relegated to the very well-off. Sadly, it is deemed as a necessity, as public schools are considered by most as a complete failure. The result is a growing disparity between the rich and poor. Education is perhaps one of the best tools to fight poverty, which an estimated 45% of the island's population lives under. Moreover, in today's world, a well-educated workforce is absolutely necessary in order to stay competitive. When the public education system cannot provide a decent education for children, something which should be a universal right, society as a whole suffers in many different ways.

(Update (9/19/10)- Jesus Rivera was officially named the Secretary of the Department of Education of Puerto Rico on September 15th.

Strike at the Univ. of Puerto Rico

The island's most important institute of higher education, the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), has been shut down by students since last Wednesday. Unfortunately, the strike has taken an ugly turn as numerous confrontations between students and the police took place. What was initially a 48-hour strike has now turned into an indefinite one at the public university. With eleven campuses throughout the island, the largest and most prestigious being in Rio Piedras, an estimated 64,511 students are enrolled at the UPR. Tuition is currently at a mere $51.00 per credit for undergraduate students. Tuition increases, a reportedly $75 to $100 million in budget cuts, and the elimination or revision of certain academic exemptions and requirements, are not the only points of contention.

According to members of the Action Committee of Students of Law (Comité de Acción de Estudiantes de Derecho) at UPR-Rio Piedras, students want to prevent the destruction of the island's most important center of learning. Moreover, they also want to guarantee the right for all to a public education. Nevertheless, this group does not represent the sentiment of the entire student population. An important note to consider is the number of those who approved this strike. At the UPR-Rio Piedras campus, with approximately 19,000 students, 763 students voted in favor and 261 voted against the shut-down. This is to say 4% of the entire student body officially support the strike.

The increasing cost of a public college education is not an isolated trend pertaining only to the island of Puerto Rico. On the mainland U.S, the average tuition increase at a 4-yr. public college rose 6.5% in 2009 compared to the 2008 academic year. This is no surprise as many states have had to adopt more austere budget packages. In addition to local funding from the Puerto Rican government, UPR does also receive funding from the U.S federal government in the form of grants for scientific research, amongst others. Students are also eligible for certain types of federal financial aid programs. Currently, talks between the university President and student leaders have stalled. Both sides have yet to agree on the rules for mediation.

Update (5/20/10): Clashes between students (and parents) and police officers have grown more violent and intense as the strike continues. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much progress made in the negotiation between student leaders and the university's administration. Here's a link to the coverage of the strike from Democracy Now.

Image above obtained from El Nuevo Día, www.endi.com