Vol. 30 No. 331 (2025)
Universal Right, Urgent Challenge
The intrinsic value of public, secular, and free education lies in its being one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and social equity. Its free nature eliminates economic barriers, guaranteeing that access to education is not a privilege, but a universal right. This ensures equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic background, and is a key driver of social mobility and the reduction of inequalities. However, there is a marked inequality between communities or even between schools within the same area, with a concentration of vulnerable students and a lack of resources in the schools that need them most.
Because it is public, the school becomes a space for encounter and social cohesion. It brings together students from diverse backgrounds, promoting respect, tolerance, and mutual understanding. It is the environment where essential civic values for community life and active participation in the public sphere are learned and practiced. However, violence and a lack of psychological support in some school environments reflect and perpetuate the problems of the socio-cultural context, hindering a positive school climate, which is a determining factor in educational quality.
Public education is not a private matter but rather part of a national project. Focused on teaching scientific, humanistic, and ethical knowledge based on reason and evidence, it fosters critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and informed debate. This approach prepares citizens capable of making autonomous and rational decisions, essential for the health of any pluralistic and modern society. However, in recent decades, the neglect by public authorities, reflected in the reduction of the education budget and the dismantling of essential programs, facilitates privatizing and market-driven trends that fragment the system and deepen inequality.
Tulio Guterman, Director – December 2025
Published:
2025-12-08
