SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 24th May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The award ceremony for the Viera y Clavijo 2023 distinctions took place on Friday, presided over by the Minister of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity, and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Poli Suárez. The event was held at the House of Culture in Los Realejos, Tenerife, recognising seven educators and three educational institutions for their exceptional contributions to education in the archipelago.
These awards are esteemed as the highest honour for educational achievements in non-university education in the Canary Islands and are named after José Antonio de Viera y Clavijo, the most prominent figure of the Enlightenment era in the archipelago. Viera y Clavijo was born in Los Realejos in 1731, and in 2023 the 210th anniversary of his passing was commemorated.
The ceremony was attended by the Vice Minister of Education, José Manuel Cabrera; General Director of Personnel and Teacher Training, Mónica Ramírez; and the Mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González. They, alongside the Minister, presented the distinctions to the honoured educators and institutions across the four categories.
Cristina Blanco Sánchez, director of the Cairasco de Figueroa Secondary Education Institute (IES) in Gran Canaria, was awarded the Viera y Clavijo 2023 distinction for her teaching contributions. In addition, Julián Fariña Rodríguez from the Virgen de Candelaria Integrated Vocational Training Center (CIFP) in Tenerife, and Pedro Rodríguez Rodríguez, a teacher and technician at the General Directorate of Education Planning, Inclusion and Innovation of the Government of the Canary Islands, were also acknowledged.
The next category celebrated outstanding professional careers and commitment to the teaching profession. María Isabel Pérez González, who taught for nearly four decades at the IES Bañaderos-Cipriano Acosta in Gran Canaria until her retirement in the 2022/23 academic year, and the late Pascual Molina Barreto from the IES Doctor Antonio González González in Tenerife, were recognised for their dedicated work.
Manuel García Déniz and Rafael Curbelo Armas from Lanzarote, a teacher and inspector respectively, were awarded for their exceptional contributions towards achieving educational goals, in the third and final individual categories of the event.
Lastly, the CEIP Puntagorda (La Palma) and Gran Canaria, the IES La Laboral de La Laguna (Tenerife), were honoured for their innovative practices, projects rooted in Canarian identity, and overall excellence.
Following the awards presentation, teacher Cristina Blanco delivered a speech on behalf of all awardees at the event, which also featured a performance by Barrios Orquestados and concluded with remarks from the Minister.
Blanco shared a quote from the writer Jorge Luis Borges: “I really like teaching, especially because, while I teach, I am learning.” She emphasised that their dedication to teaching has been recognised publicly, despite working diligently without expecting more than the satisfaction that comes from their passion for educating.
Suárez commended the recipients for their “excellence in teaching” and acknowledged their relentless commitment towards nurturing the intellect, abilities, and potential of the future leaders of the Canary Islands society.
The Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to the seven educators and three educational establishments that were honoured, noting that their contributions have been vital in shaping numerous generations of young individuals who now form part of society. He emphasised that this recognition was well-deserved and attested by their colleagues.
Suárez concluded by stating the department’s dedication to supporting the approximately 30,000 educators in the Canary Islands, ensuring they have the necessary resources to continue their work effectively and up-to-date.
The event was also attended by the General Directors of Infrastructure and Equipment, Vocational Training and Special Regime Education and Professional Qualifications, as well as the General Inspector of Education in the Canary Islands, and Territorial and Island Directors.
