Region of South America
The South America Region School Network team met in Lima, Peru, on the last week of August. The objective of the meeting was to develop a model for the regional initiative, based on the Strategic Plan of the Region, from the construction of a contribution map with projects that will be linked to the objectives of the plan.
One of the points analyzed was the benchmark study to know the models of organization and management of the local networks and educational sectors of the five Administrative Units that make up the Region. In this perspective, the team learned about the educational model of the Peruvian Educational Sector, visiting a public school and a private school. For Brother Vanderlei dos Santos, coordinator of the Network of Schools, this was an opportunity to learn about the work of local networks and can shed light on the construction of the South American Region. "We were all delighted with the quality of the Marist educational offer in the public school EIP Santa María de los Andes and Champagnat School in Lima", said the coordinator. Before concluding, he added: "We saw the leaders concerned with the challenges and opportunities for an innovative education that is consistent with Marist educational and pastoral principles. We also glimpsed the art, the colours of the streets, the fairs and the exhibitions materialized in the work of Peruvian students.
Methodological route and next steps
For the methodological path of the formation of the Network of Schools, three phases were outlined: purpose, model and strategy. Depending on the progress of the meeting, the team of the Network of Schools will elaborate the terms of opening of the three priority projects: Management of Knowledge , Centres for Training and Principles of Constitution of the Network, which will be submitted for approval to the Regional Assembly, to be held in Bolivia in April 2020.
About the Network of Schools
The initiative consists of the formation of a Regional Education Team to define the steps and positions of the schools in the Region related to the market perspective, teamwork, exchanges, innovation and quality of the academic offer. The concept of network tries to understand how and in what moments and fronts a joint action will be possible to strengthen the Marist units.