Rejection of the proposals for educational transformation in the teaching of Geography in secondary education in Uruguay
El CLACSO Working Group on Critical Geographical Thought in Latin America and the Caribbean He publicly expresses his concern and rejection of the proposals for educational transformation for secondary education in Uruguay, particularly those that compromise the teaching of Geography.
Additionally, this group wishes to express its support for and adherence to the statement issued by the National Association of Geography Teachers (ANPG) of Uruguay on August 12, 2023, highlighting the following points: i) the elimination of Geography teaching in Uruguay deprives students and future generations of scientific knowledge of the territory they inhabit, ii) the elimination of Geography in Upper Secondary Education compromises students' critical understanding of regional and global geographical processes, and iii) the lack of awareness among educational policy authorities regarding the formative, ethical, and political value of Geography limits the personal development of students.
The elimination of subjects and curricular units in Geography compromises students' ability to understand territorial realities and, consequently, to become key actors in designing alternatives in the pursuit of environmental and social justice. In a context of global environmental crisis, which has captured the attention and action of the international community, we understand that the education of engaged, informed students with critical thinking skills should be a priority in new educational pathways. However, the educational transformation led by the political authorities of education in Uruguay is heading in the opposite direction.
Finally, we cannot fail to mention that these setbacks of eliminating or reducing the hours of geography teaching in Uruguay are not unrelated to our reality within the Geopolitics of Knowledge in Latin America and the Caribbean, which diminish the value of geographical knowledge for our youth as a tool for the pursuit of territorial justice and well-being.
We express our concern about the imminent loss of quality in secondary education in Uruguay and request that the authorities reconsider this curricular modification.
The Latin American and Caribbean Critical Geographic Thinking Working Group, belonging to CLACSO (Conselho Latino-Americano de Ciências Sociais), publicly expresses its concern and review of proposals for educational transformation for secondary education in Uruguay, particularly those that involve the teaching of Geography.
Additionally, this group wishes to express its support and appreciation to the pronouncement of the National Association of Geography Professors (ANPG) of Uruguay, on August 12, 2023, highlighting the following points: i) the elimination of the Geography in Uruguai ensign deprives students and future generations of scientific knowledge of território que inhabitam, ii) the elimination of Geography in Higher Secondary Education commits to critical comprehension of students on the regional and global geographic processes, and iii) the lack of knowledge of educational political authorities on the formation, ethical and political value of Geography, limits the personal development of students.
The elimination of disciplines and curricular units of Geography compromises the training of students to understand territorial realities and, consequently, to be key players in the development of alternatives in search of environmental and social justice. In the context of the global environmental crisis, which has been brought to the attention of the international community, we understand that the formation of committed, informed students with the capacity for critical analysis must be a priority in new educational trajectories. However, the educational transformation led by the political authorities of education in Uruguay is moving in the opposite direction.
Finally, we cannot fail to mention that these regressions of elimination or reduction of the hourly load of geography education in Uruguay are not alheios in our reality within the Geopolitics of Knowledge in Latin America and the Caribbean that subtract the value of geographical knowledge for our young people as a tool in the search for justice territorial do bem Viver or do Viver Bem.
We express our concern about the imminent loss of quality of secondary education in Uruguay and ask the authorities to reconsider this curricular modification.
7th September 2023
CLACSO Working Group
Latin American and Caribbean critical geographical thought
This text expresses the position of Working Group on Latin American and Caribbean Critical Geographical Thought and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
