Rolando Figueroa opened the second stage of the Higher Teacher Training Institute No. 14 expansion with Cutral Co Mayor Ramón Rioseco and Plaza Huincul Mayor Claudio Larraza. The project, carried out through delegated municipal administration, cost 1.298 billion pesos and serves more than 400 students. The governor presented infrastructure and teacher education as two parts of the same priority.
The expansion added 650 square meters to the original 1,200-square-meter building. Two new L-shaped wings create an internal courtyard and improve circulation. The area adds four classrooms, an auditorium, student and staff bathrooms including an accessible unit, administrative offices, student supervision, a library and corridors. Existing access, bathrooms, sunshades, windows, ventilation and lighting were also improved.
Figueroa linked the opening to a program to remove trailer classrooms. He said 700 units were spread across 65 schools when he took office. The official balance says they have been eliminated at 43 facilities, leaving 22 pending. The stated goal is to have all necessary works under way during the following year and permanently abandon that model.
The governor added a wider investment scale: projects under construction and tendering total a planned 100,000 square meters of schools. That includes 10 technical schools of 5,000 square meters each and the upcoming opening of EPET 25 in Plottier. He nevertheless said quality depends not only on buildings but also on training those who teach.
IFD 14 was created in 1989 and trains secondary teachers in biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, language and literature, and geography. Provincial Education Council President Glenda Temi highlighted the staffing needed to sustain higher education. Figueroa added that 10% of students preparing to teach receive Gregorio Álvarez scholarships.
The province, Education Ministry, council and Plaza Huincul municipality also signed an agreement for one cohort of a Technical-Professional Teacher Training Program for people holding a prior degree. The agreement lasts three years, covering implementation, completion, graduation and assessment. The test will be completing the remaining 22 schools and turning IFD capacity into more teachers for technical education.
