Dozens of parents from the metropolitan region came today, Saturday, to Carrer Fortalesa de el Vell Sant Joan to protest against the temporary closure of schools that the various scientific groups have recommended in the face of the rise of cases of COVID-19 facing Puerto Rico.
The group, called “Open the schools now,” arrived on the outskirts of the Executive Mansion at about 10:00 a.m. and among its spokesmen, argued that education, being a constitutional right, has of being the last institution to stop offering services.
Watch the demonstration:
[AHORA] The group called “Open Schools Now” is protesting 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 harm and a lot of mental pain. They have stopped being children and the only place they can be is in schools. It’s sharing with the people of the his age, “said the group’s spokeswoman. Carmen Teresa Terga, Also mother of three children.
“We respect the protocol but we understand that it needs to be reviewed,” he added in a conversation with Puerto Rico Metro.
For its part, Lumy Mangual, Mother of a six-year-old boy, said for her part that the closure of school facilities cannot be justified when economic sectors are still open.
“We must follow President Biden’s guidelines when he expressed that schools, education in particular is an essential service. Here they vaccinated teachers in recognition of what they are essential workers but have fallen short in the discussion,” he said. he said.
The demonstration continued until noon, with children carrying postcards reading phrases such as “we want to go to school”, “I don’t want computer school” and “we are a priority”.
“We are not prioritizing children and we are not prioritizing education,” Mangual added.
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Similarly expressed Felipe Albors, a fourth-year student at Saint John’s School, who said he felt abandoned by the government after the institution announced a return to virtual classes after its “spring break “.
“The saddest aspect of this pandemic has been the closure of schools. We, fourth-year students, have spent our whole lives waiting for this moment to not only graduate, but to live the fourth year. All memories, all the preparation for university, and we arrived and saw how society opens up aspects of the economy … and leaves us behind, “the young man told the press.
“As long as the students are left behind, we can’t live what is the fourth year, we feel abandoned by this government and we are outraged,” he said.