Chaco's Education Minister, Sofia Naidenoff, articulates her aspirations as an educator, expressing a desire to eliminate the educational disparity that has been a distinctive feature of Chaco.
On a crisp autumn day in Buenos Aires, the Minister of Education for Chaco, Sofía Naidenoff, paid a visit to the Book Fair. In an emotional conversation with Patricio Zunini, Naidenoff pledged to transform Chaco into a region with equal opportunities and education as the key to bridging the gap with the rest of Argentina.
The chat kicked off by celebrating the work of teacher Gloria Cisneros, honored by the Chaco Government for her tireless dedication to education in the La Sara settlement, deep within the Impenetrable Chaco region. Naidenoff noted that Cisneros' work serves as a model for the teaching workshops they conduct on effective teaching practices.
"Chaco has bet on classroom development, literacy, teacher training, and pedagogical practices, just like Gloria," Naidenoff said. "But how are you preparing to tackle the challenges of the 21st century?"
Naidenoff shared that she reminded the Ticmas technical and pedagogical team of their initial challenge: literacy. They had launched a training program for teachers, students, and institutions, not as a pilot test, but for everyone from Resistencia to the heart of the Impenetrable.
"Our objective is to work with teachers in the same way we did with initial literacy," Naidenoff explained. "We need it to be a bit in parallel, because if not, we'll also be left behind."
The Learning System methodology, central to their work in Chaco, has shown promise. Despite only implementing it for a few months, they've noticed improvements in reading fluency among third-graders.
"When we took over last year, we applied it recently," Naidenoff said. "We're taking the reading fluency test in third grade now. Our aim is to speak with each teacher, each school director, to change and improve the situation."
This focus on reading has led to a year-round school schedule, even in the summer, to help first-graders who can't read and write. Teachers were prioritized for pay during the summer school program.
Naidenoff also discussed soft skills, stressing the need to teach children to be creative, think critically, and form their own opinions. She mentioned that they're working on a creative training, motivation, and responsible technology education proposal.
Inhabitants of Chaco face challenges typical of northern Argentina, including rural-urban disparities and limited access to quality secondary and higher education infrastructure. These aren't unique to Chaco, but they present additional challenges for the province.
Despite these difficulties, Naidenoff remains hopeful. She visits schools frequently and has encountered students who proudly say they can read. "These children give me hope," Naidenoff said. "I'd like them to visit the province; I know they have to travel more from Ticmas now. My pulse comes from the teacher, the commitment."
Recent developments like the Ticmas auditorium and the integration of Aprendo Leyendo-style literacy improvement methods offer potential solutions for Chaco's educational challenges. As Naidenoff works to uplift Chaco from its second-to-last place on Argentina's national education rankings, she remains steadfast in her mission to improve the lives of Chaco's children and families.
- Gloria Cisneros, honored by the Chaco Government for her work in the La Sara settlement, is a model for the teaching workshops conducted by Sofía Naidenoff and her team, focusing on effective teaching practices.
- Naidenoff highlighted the importance of addressing the challenges of the 21st century, mentioning their ongoing training program for teachers, students, and institutions throughout Chaco.
- The Learning System methodology, central to their work in Chaco, has shown positive effects, improving reading fluency among third-graders after only a few months of implementation.
- Aware of the challenges faced by inhabitants of Chaco, such as rural-urban disparities and limited access to quality education infrastructure, Naidenoff remains optimistic, emphasizing personal growth and self-development as key components of her educational initiatives.
