By Neftali Rengifo Yurgaqui: teacher, lawyer and columnist
“A single day is, without a doubt, little to thank the teachers for everything that with love, patience and dedication, they do for the education of children and young people. They, with their daily work, guide their students not only through a world of knowledge, but through the path of life.” (MEN)
There are many teachers who deserve to be mentioned and honored in this special celebration, some acquaintances who passed away leaving us their beautiful memory linked to our perennial gratitude. Others still remain within our reach to honor them in life as they deserve and to receive our warm affection.
On this occasion, the teachers column coincides praising teachers and exalting the value of education, especially honoring three of those mentioned here who could represent with dignity the rest of excellent teachers in this forced anonymity
I am referring to the teachers Jorge Leyva Durán who appreciates and exalts like no other the virtues of the great teacher and educational entrepreneur, such as Jesús Antonio Lozano Asprilla; and César Enrique Rivas Lara, a teacher of excellence for more than 40 years at the service of education in Chocó. They are the protagonists of this column and, for dessert, the first of the authors gives us flattering comments for Francia Márquez who has become an educator to teach her ancestral customs to the Country in search of the vindication of the Afro-Colombian ethnic group of she. So this mosaic of celebration of May 15, teacher’s day, in lyrics and in recording.
Is there the truth? (II)
Jorge Leyva Duran: University professor and columnist for “El Nuevo Siglo”
“It is appropriate to talk about two characters that I admire and respect – without political proselytism – first, Chucho Lozano, founder of a university in Chocó. In the 70s, when I was the academic director of Icfes, I traveled to Quibdó, to close a “supposed university, without head and tail”: it had a school of butchery and bus repair… I arrived at the rectory and found a professor standing above from the Rector’s desk. From there he sent me to the cafeteria, where I found the Rector, who greeted me with a smile. And before listening to me, he asked me not to say anything yet. Two days later he was already in love with Chucho’s project.
He said that their programs were solid, but if we gave them the names of the other universities, the students would leave Chocó. I studied the programs and saw that they surpassed many of the Colombian universities. But aimed at transforming the geographic potential of Chocó. After this, I managed to get several universities in the United States to donate libraries, laboratories, programs and experience to them. Of course, later, some politician took the rectory from Chucho: “never again Chucho, or someone from his group”: killing the genius for Chocó.”
It is valuable to recognize that the auditorium of the University bears the name of the great teacher Jesús A. Lozano Asprilla and that the hymn of the alma mater, presented on the occasion of the celebration of the golden anniversary, on March 6, 2022, did not ignore the merits of its first rector as had been done in previous cultural and academic events of the UTCH. These little verses go like this:
“(…)
Diego Luis inspired her
and a team founded it
led by Jesus Lozano
its first rector
(…)”
The teacher Jorge Leyva Durán continues his column: “Ms. Francia Márquez came to her candidacy for the vice presidency for her achievements serving others and the environment. She was born in a village in Suarez, Cauca, and as a child she worked the mines in her village, where the miners died “like animals”. Her academic achievements have been awarded by world institutions; her degree thesis was awarded; and awarded by the World Environment Organization; BBC London ranked her among the world‘s top ten environmental defenders. However, there are many who do not accept that she has been chosen, by popular vote, as a candidate for the vice presidency of Colombia.” (…)
César Rivas Lara on Teacher’s Day
Cesar Enrique Rivas Lara: Former university professor, author of many books and columnist.
This is his message on audio recording: