The country has before it a simple agenda in formulation, but enormously complex in its implementation. First of all, we have to learn to live with him coronavirus, and the only way to do it is with the ethics of mutual care; irresponsibility is paid for with life. Secondly, we have to revive the economy, we cannot continue to be locked up indefinitely. With prudence it is necessary to boost economic activity; hunger doesn’t wait. Third, the country has to make progress in solving the serious problems that the pandemic has exposed; These problems are structural, but we had not given them enough attention.
Some segments of opinion affirm that this task corresponds exclusively to the National government. I do not share this interpretation, which I consider simplistic. All citizens and all organizations are jointly responsible.
Next I want to share some reflections on the contributions that the country requests from the universities, which provide an invaluable service through the training of professionals and have solid research groups. All universities, public and private, are called to rethink the country, giving priority to those problems whose seriousness and urgency the pandemic has brought to light public. These are long-standing structural problems that the country has been postponing. As an example, I am going to refer to some of them, knowing that the list is much longer and more complicated.
Let’s start with the public health. It is the responsibility of the universities to reinforce training in public and epidemiological health for those who are preparing themselves as future professionals in the health sector. Powerful initiatives must be put in place to prevent people from developing preventable diseases and dying from preventable causes. Environmental, economic, social and lifestyle factors can represent 80% of health problems.
Once the emergency National Intensive Care Units and Respirators We should focus on prevention. Currently 96% of resources are spent on care and only 4% on public health.
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We universities must propose actions that allow us to overcome fear and move towards self-care that does not cause fractures in interpersonal relationships
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The pandemic has shown great challenges in mental health, which must be attended according to the stage of the life cycle in which we find ourselves. All Colombians are sick with fear. Fear paralyzes us and causes us terrible wear. Children do not understand why they cannot play in the park, meet their friends and visit their grandparents. Adolescents experience quarantine with deep boredom, which they seek to mitigate with video games. Her parents are scared by the economic crisis. Older adults are afraid of contracting virus, being isolated in an ICU far from the family and dying. We are all sick with fear. We are overwhelmed by uncertainty. We universities must propose actions that allow us to overcome fear and move towards self-care that does not produce fractures in interpersonal relationships. A frightened society is not capable of reinventing itself.
At this time, the return to the classrooms is the subject of an intense debate in which parents, teachers, students, Ministry of Education. The subject is very delicate. As long as there is no vaccine, the risk of contagion will be present. We have to get used to the idea of a return to classes with caution and within some restrictions. The training processes will combine face-to-face moments and virtual experiences. What can we universities do? Improve the technological infrastructure and the pedagogical capacities of teachers so that they use the full potential offered by digital platforms appropriately. During the quarantine, all teachers were forced to use these technological tools. They already lost their fear. Now they must perfect their use.
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At the same time that teachers improve their pedagogical skills, a significant effort must be made to improve the connectivity country digital. The digital revolution is here to stay. You have to make large investments. It is an urgent project that mobilizes many actors: the National Government, private investors, universities and schools, the computer providers that have the possibility of making striking promotions for the acquisition of these equipment, which became essential for daily life.
The pandemic has exposed the cruel inequities that the country has been dragging along throughout its history. We have seen how the authorities exhort the population to remain in their homes. Wide sectors of our cities have had to be locked up. With pain we have to recognize that the hungry It requires returning to the street to search for the food of the day at any cost.
A significant effort must be made to improve the country’s digital connectivity. The digital revolution is here to stay
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It is necessary to put on the table of the national debate issues as urgent as universal basic income, unemployment, pensions, the aging of the population, etc. All these issues are interconnected and ask to review the economic model. No need to be nervous with this review. It is not about denying private property or abolishing the market economy. The attempts that have been made have failed and have accentuated the poverty of the peoples. The examples are very close.
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The Economics faculties of our universities and study centers have the most qualified people to address these issues. I invite research groups to review their agendas. They often focus their efforts on publishing an article in a renowned international magazine. This brings prestige and points to move up the ladder. In this very hard time we live in, we need the research groups to be absolutely connected to the pains and cries of the country. Articles that will make them famous and promoted can wait a bit for publication. We need them to focus on the problems that suffocate us. Formulate projects that can become public policy. May their authoritative and intelligent voices resonate above the noises emitted by other political actors who are not thinking about a country project, but rather about their particular electoral agendas.
Space limitations have required me to focus on a few issues such as public health, mental health, back to school, digital connectivity, and the revision of the economic model. The list is much longer and more complex. I have only tried to motivate the academic community to become more directly involved in solving the great national problems that the covid-19 has left bare. It is not about organizing marches and sit-ins. It is about providing intelligent and realistic solutions.
JORGE HUMBERTO PELÁEZ S. J.*
For the time* Jorge Humberto Peláez SJ is rector of the Javeriana University
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