On Wednesday, the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, presented the Minister of Education in his next government, Miguel Cardona, a teacher of Latin American origin who has been waiting for the difficult task of accelerating the reopening of schools that have been closed, most of them since the beginning of the epidemic.
“At this crucial time in the history of our nation, it is imperative that we choose a teacher to be the minister of education,” said Biden, whose teacher wife Jill holds a PhD in educational sciences.
Miguel Cardona, 45, of Puerto Rican parents, said the school was a “social lever” for him, as it should be.
This former public school teacher advanced to become the Connecticut Minister of Education.
“But for many students, where you live, and the color of your complexion, is still the best way to predict the opportunities that will be available to you throughout your life,” he added in a brief speech alongside Biden.
This advocate of public education and presumably confirming his appointment by the Senate presents a contrast to Betsy DeVos, the billionaire education minister appointed by Donald Trump and advocate for private education.
Although the outgoing Republican president has demanded the reopening of schools despite the health crisis, his government is being criticized for not doing anything to help schools in particular logistical and financial terms.
And many American schools offer education online only nine months after they were closed, threatening to deepen disparities.
Joe Biden reiterated Wednesday that “re-opening schools safely will be a national priority.”
He promised to present a funding plan to Congress “to achieve the ambitious and realistic goal of reopening the majority of schools safely before the end of the first 100 days” of his term, which begins on January 20.
Miguel Cardona will also have to fulfill Biden’s other major promises of wiping out part of the massive debt accumulated by US students to finance their transfer to university, and also making higher education accessible to all, as well as kindergarten.
The next minister, who has presented himself as “bilingual and cultural,” will be the third member of Hispanic American origin in the government of the Democratic president-elect who has promised “the widest diversity” in his team in American history.
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