Quito, September 24 (Prensa Latina) The Ecuadorian Ministry of Education announced today that twelve schools in the cities of Durán and Guayaquil, in the province of Guayas, will hold virtual classes due to the escalation of violence there.
The measure applies to a total of 38,697 students from this Monday.
The education authorities explained that although the decision was temporary in nature, the National Police would have to carry out an intervention and verify the characteristics before the return to face-to-face teaching.
This Friday, the Ministry of Education offered security for schools in conflict zones, especially in the coastal region of the Andean country, where numerous criminal gangs now operate.
The agency allocated $14 million to hire private security guards to supplement the National Police’s work in educational institutions in insecure areas such as the city of Durán.
According to the Minister of the sector, María Brown, this is one of the measures foreseen in the State portfolio due to the escalation of criminal violence in this territory and in other areas such as Guayaquil or Esmeraldas.
Parents in these locations demanded that Brown return to virtuality as violent deaths increase and educational centers face danger due to the presence of gangs there.
Recently, the National Police warned that at least 1,326 minors between the ages of 12 and 17 in the Andean country left classrooms to join criminal gangs.
According to a police report, the youths were linked to crimes such as illegal possession of weapons, contract killers, micro-trafficking, theft from people and other crimes related to organized crime.
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