Heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers have tested the resilience of the communities in the north and south of Esmeraldas, making the expected return to the classrooms difficult. Despite the obstacles, the determination of students, teachers and local authorities has prevailed, demonstrating that education remains an unwavering priority.
In the Eloy Alfaro canton, located in the north of Esmeraldas, the Ónzole and Cayapas rivers have overflowed their banks, flooding homes, farms and streets with stagnant water and mud. This situation has hindered the mobility of parents and students to educational establishments, hindering the start of the school year. Residents of the Luz del Carmen community relate how their children and nephews were deprived of attending classes due to the loss of their uniforms in the floods. Similar situations were repeated in other towns affected by the flooding of the Cayapa River, such as El Edén, Pichiyacu Negro, Pichiyacu Chachi, Herradura, Cayapa, Chibatillo, Naranjito, Playa Grande Chachi and Playa Grande Negro.
An aquatic journey towards knowledge
In these rural areas, where Afro-Esmeralda and Chachi populations reside, river transportation has become an indispensable ally to access education. Canoes, boats with outboard motors and cane and wood rafts are the means used by students to cross the rivers and reach their campuses. Nixon Quiñonez, former president of the Anchayacu rural parish, described how the students themselves must row and mobilize their classmates in these improvised boats. In addition, they face the challenge of walking through muddy and waterlogged trails, requiring the use of plastic boots to protect themselves.
South of Emeralds
The situation was no different in Muisne, located in the south of the province. There, parents expressed their concern about the use of tarabitas or improvised boards to cross rivers, since the bridge over the San Francisco River collapsed more than a year ago due to flooding. Despite the obstacles, educational and government authorities are committed to guaranteeing access to education. Governor Javier Buitrón, together with representatives of the Municipality of Eloy Alfaro and the Ministry of Education, inaugurated the school year in one of the schools in the area, handing out desks and reinforcing the importance of preparation for emergency situations.
Prevention and response protocols
Pilar Carrera, district director of Education, revealed that, in collaboration with the Secretariat of Risk Management (SGR), prevention and response protocols have been established in the event of floods. These efforts seek to guarantee the safety of the 163,813 students and 8,516 teachers who attend the 866 educational establishments in Esmeraldas and Imbabura during this 2024 school year. Despite the challenges imposed by torrential rains and rising rivers, the educational community de Esmeraldas has demonstrated its determination and resilience. From the students who row their own boats to the teachers and authorities who work tirelessly to ensure a safe and conducive environment for learning, every effort counts in building a more promising future.(JNG)