Gran Canaria will be the national headquarters of the debate on the new challenges and paradigms of Education with the celebration of the I Forum of [RE] Education 'New Challenges, New Paradigms' sponsored by the Department of Education of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. Clari Martel, Councilor for Education, explains the motivation and significance of this meeting that places the municipality at the forefront of the debate on educational models, and which will be held from October 25 to 27 at ExpoMeloneras.
What is I [RE] Education Forum 'New Challenges, New Paradigms'?
The Forum is, above all, an opportunity. The opportunity to share, to dialogue and debate, about those aspects that concern the educational community and is the result of the desire to create that space for dialogue, reflection, debate, to rethink and chart new paths towards a comprehensive conception of Education, with the aim of reaching each of the members of the educational community, and responding to the different challenges that arise in the classrooms. But it is also the opportunity to value the richness of the educational ecosystem of our municipality. From its diverse reality, learning can be extracted on which to build a more integrative, inclusive and equitable school.
What are the new challenges and paradigms?
The challenges are summarized in incorporating in a progressive and integrated way the indicators contemplated in purpose number four of the Sustainable Development Goals: guaranteeing inclusive, equitable and quality education and promoting learning opportunities throughout life. We are in a change of era, also accelerated by the situation generated by the covid19 pandemic. And Education is the key to addressing with guarantees the rest of the goals that we set in the 2030 Agenda, education as a transformed tool of social innovation. Universal, inclusive and quality education is the most effective tool against poverty, inequalities, disease, sustainability and tolerance Public powers have the obligation to put Education at the center of our policies. At San Bartolomé we have acquired a firm commitment to these principles, and our objective is to contribute with everything in our power to achieve it.
What objectives does the Forum have and how is it organized?
The objective is to contribute to dialogue and reflection. We must listen to the educational community, we must give the floor to the experts, and we must open the paths for exchange and the synergies that they add. To achieve this objective, the Forum is organized on the basis of presentations, workshops and work tables where families, teachers, municipal technicians, researchers, disseminators, public officials and managers, and non-governmental organizations are represented to address issues. such as mental and emotional health, coexistence, attention to diversity, inclusion, new technologies and training for employment.
What does the richness of the municipality's educational ecosystem consist of?
The school map of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has eleven early childhood and primary education centers, two compulsory education centers, four secondary education institutes, one adult education center and the official language school. Soon we will also have a special education classroom and we are working to open the doors of an integrated Vocational Training center. We have almost 7.000 students from 70 countries who live in these centers, with their different dynamics and methods. We believe that from the experience of these diverse local realities, and through the Forum, we have the opportunity to generate a multiplier and enriching effect throughout the educational community of Spain.
They have named it the first Forum, is there a desire for continuity?
That is our wish, that this First Forum, that this commitment to Education, has continuity over time, that it is an example of dialogue and reflection and that it becomes a national reference, in that mirror in which the entire educational system can reflect.
PROFILE OF CLARI MARTEL PÉREZ
Canarian and Higher Technician in Early Childhood Education, she is a public employee, developing most of her working life in the field of early childhood education, serving as director of one of the Early Childhood Education centers of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council from 1991 until the end 2013. Secretary of Social Services, Dependency and Disability of the local executive of the PSOE in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. Mother of three children, and grandmother of four grandchildren, she has combined family and work life, with her training being one of her vital constants, which has allowed her to grow personally and professionally.
CHALLENGES AND PARADIGMS, THE FORUM PROGRAM
The Forum offers a “powerful program” that will feature qualified speakers of national reputation such as Dr. Mario Alonso Puig who will offer the inaugural conference “Education as a space of possibilities in an uncertain and changing world”; Nélida Zaitegi, educational advisor, former president of the school council of Euskadi who will speak about “Education for coexistence and against bullying”; The teacher, pedagogue and educational psychologist, Mar Romera with the presentation titled “Educate without Recipes”; and the teacher and writer César Bona, whose intervention will be about “Humanizing Education: an opportunity to [RE] think about education.”
Mental health, prevention of suicidal behavior
'Suicidal behavior prevention program and intervention protocol for suicide risk in Canary Islands educational institutions of the Canary Islands Health Service', with the intervention of psychiatrist Francisco Javier Acosta Artiles; the clinical psychologist of the Health Promotion Service of the General Directorate of Public Health, Carmen Teresa Pitti González; and Dr. Eduardo Cabrera Casimiro, clinical psychologist of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council.
Diversity, transsexuality
'Diversity at school: Transsexuality from childhood and adolescence' with the intervention of Iñaki Goñi, technical advisor of the educational protocol for cases of transsexuality in Navarra; Joana Cabrera Berger. Doctor, case manager and TransCan Service coordination, of the Canary Islands Health Service; and Marisa Marrero Gómez, responsible for the protocol for the support of trans* students and attention to gender diversity, from the General Directorate of Planning, Innovation and Quality of the Government of the Canary Islands.
New technologies and Education
'Education and ICTs: inclusion, digital divide, access to technologies. The great challenge for students and teachers; adapt to the changes of a Post-COVID-19 world' with José Gilberto Moreno, director of the Elder Museum of Science and Technology.
Training for employment
'Dual FP as a new professionalizing educational resource and access to the labor market' will be another of the star topics of the Forum with the intervention of Gustavo Santana Martel. Deputy Minister of Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, Dunnia Rodríguez, general director of the Employment Service and Enrique Pérez Darías, vocational training teacher.
Creativity, culture and humor as educational tools
Interculturality, humor and signs of identity as educational resources are also part of the program, so that each afternoon the sessions will culminate with a show that links the transversality of knowledge: Artistic Performance by the Thioune Brothers (Canary Islands/Senegal); 'Education with Humor' by Kike Pérez, Teacher and comedian; and 'Going back to the future: Verse tradition and learning' with Yeray Rodríguez, doctor in Hispanic Philology.
