Latin American Leaders Agree that it is Vital to Boost Virtual Technology to Strengthen Education Without Borders

GFDD and FUNGLODE were represented at the opening of the XII Meeting of Virtual Educa in Mexico on "Educational Innovation for Development without Borders," where Latin American leaders expressed the importance of modernizing the education systems in the region and the gradual incorporation of new information technologies into their daily activities.

The meeting was headed by the Secretary of Public Education (SEP) of Mexico, Alonso
Lujambio Irazábal; Marie E. Levens, Director of Human Development, Education and Culture,  Organization of American States (OAS); Josefina Pimentel Valenzuela, Minister of Education of the Dominican Republic and Chair of the Latin American Network of Educational Portals, RELPE; Elias Ariel Castillo Gonzalez, Chair of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino); Jose Maria Anton, General Secretary of Virtual Educa; Roberto Escalante, Secretary General of the Union of
Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL); Juan Romero, President of Pearson Latin America; and Patricio López del Puerto, Rector of the Virtual University of the Sistema Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Secretary Irazábal announced that Mexico foresees the implementation of the Open and Distance High School in the country during 2011 as part of his country”s commitment to the implementation of Information Technologies in the
Mexican education system.

The Dominican Minister of Education, apart from conveying the greetings sent by Dr. Leonel Fernandez, President of the Dominican Republic and Chairman of the Board of Virtual Educa, stressed that the use of this network will allow "the successful exchange of content between the Latin American countries," while also emphasizing the commitment of her country with this multi-nation initiative that brings together for four days the
leading experts from the region to discuss issues of great importance to all.

Minister Valenzuela recalled  that the previous meeting was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where the country was the scene of a high-level event that was of great benefit to both Dominicans and international participants who joined.

The Dominican delegation included representatives of the  Global Foundation for Democracy and Development and
FUNGLODE, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education, Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), the Open University for Adults (UAPA), the Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE) and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). About 18 Dominican representatives participated in this meeting by making presentations on the issues in the agenda.