Educational infrastructure and safety challenges reported in Argentina and Uruguay

Educational institutions in Argentina and Uruguay are facing significant challenges regarding infrastructure and safety management. In Argentina, there is a growing call for the state to improve risk planning and infrastructure investment to protect school communities from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, such as severe storms and floods. Experts argue that the responsibility for crisis management should not fall solely on teachers and staff.

In Uruguay, the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) reports that a shortage of specialized personnel is hindering the progress of educational infrastructure projects. A report from the Directorate of Educational Infrastructure (DIE) indicates that while there is a large portfolio of projects, many remain in the design or analysis phases due to a lack of approved positions. Education specialist Estíbaliz Pérez Pérez emphasized the need for increased technical capacity and specialized support to ensure projects move from design to completion.