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29. Cerro Matoso's support for a central educational resource in Montelíbano, Colombia, enhances learning for thousands of students
Our Cerro Matoso nickel plant is located near the town of Montelíbano in the remote northern province of Cordoba in Colombia, South America. The area has historically been disadvantaged in terms of educational resources. Teacher training is insufficient, and schools lack facilities. As it is economically impossible to upgrade every school in Montelíbano, a shared central resource has been created - the Centre of Municipal Educational Resources. Cerro Matoso has led the development of the Centre, which opened its doors in 2002. Thousands of students from local primary and high schools are now accessing its educational programs and facilities.
The Centre of Municipal Educational Resources is presently equipped with three classrooms, two physics laboratories, two biology and chemistry laboratories, two computer rooms and the latest technology. These resources are available to all students in the municipality of Montelíbano, from fifth grade to high school. Nearly 6000 students will benefit in 2003; and, with the planned addition of a further three classrooms, the number is expected to grow to 10 000 next year.
Teachers from the municipality have been able to improve, and in many cases begin, their basic training, particularly in such areas as information technology. Additionally, agreements have been made with five Colombian universities to utilise the Centre for undergraduate and distance education programs. This not only broadens the level of activities at the Centre, but also helps ensure its economic sustainability. The Centre has also become the focus of community development in Montelíbano, providing opportunities for the people from the wider community to acquire new skills.
The idea for the Centre arose in 1999, following a study that showed a major issue in the community was the poor standard of education and a high student drop-out rate. The local teachers were strongly in favour of the creation of a central education resource; and Cerro Matoso took the lead in promoting and developing the project, assisted by the Municipality of Montelíbano, the Diocese of Montelíbano, the Government of Cordoba, the Ministry of Education and the community at large.
With the support of Cerro Matoso, a committee of 25 teachers from different schools was formed to define the scope of the project. To assist their work, they undertook training in strategic planning and visited similar educational centres throughout the country. Guided by the vision of a brighter future for education in the region, they formulated a five-year strategic plan for the development of the Centre.
In 2001, the committee, with help from the local mayor and the teaching community, searched for and selected a site that met the criteria for the Centre, especially in terms of being close to the poorest student population in the municipality. The land was then purchased by the Governor's Office.
Later that year, the committee gained approval from the Municipality of Montelíbano and the Government of Cordoba to construct the Centre. A trust, managed by the San Isidro Foundation, was established to fund the development. Construction of the first phase of the Centre was completed in 2002, at a cost of US$500 000.
From the beginning of the project, a lot of effort went into gaining the interest and approval of all levels of the community for the development of a shared central educational resource. This broad community involvement is reflected in the cross-section of people involved in administration of the Centre, which has helped underpin its success to date.
School headmasters in the province support the continuing growth of the Centre as the correct path for improving the quality of education and, consequently, providing young people with better educational opportunities so they in turn can contribute more to society.
The project has attracted attention in neighbouring municipalities, such as Puerto Libertador and La Apartada. There is growing interest in building a network of similar centres in the region, so that future generations can be better educated and more prepared to face the challenges of the new millennium.
