Juan Carlos Tedesco
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Tedesco is an Argentine
academic and policy maker who was the President's Education Minister, from December 2007 to July 2009.
Tedesco was born in Buenos Aires
in 1944. Enrolling at the University of Buenos Aires
, he graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Letters in 1968. He taught as Professor of Educational History in the Universities of La Plata, El Comahue
and La Pampa
and authored his first book, Education and Society in Argentina, 1800-1945, in 1972.
Tedesco was appointed as an education policy specialist in 1976 for UNESCO
's Latin American Development and Education Project. He became Director of UNESCO's Regional Center for Latin American Higher Education in Caracas
between 1982 and 1986 and of their Regional Education Center in Santiago
between 1986 and 1992. Repression suffered by Argentine educators and students during its last dictatorship
led Tedesco to co-author a criticism of the problem, The Authoritarian Educational Agenda, with Cecilia Braslavsky in 1983.
The experience earned him the post of Director of the IBE
in Geneva
, a position he held until 1997, and as head of the Buenos Aires UNESCO bureau, until 2004. Tedesco returned to Academia, dividing his time between the private Universidad de San Andrés and the public National University of Tres de Febrero
, both outside Buenos Aires. He was subsequently appointed to the Federal Teacher Training Commission by Education Minister Daniel Filmus, who replaced Vice Minister Alberto Sileoni
with Tedesco in April 2006.
The October 2007 election
of Filmus as Senator
for the city of Buenos Aires and of Senator Cristina Kirchner as President of Argentina
led to Tedesco's swearing-in as Education Minister on December 10, 2007. Following a defeat in the June 28, 2009, mid-term elections
and a resulting cabinet shake-up, however, he was replaced on July 20 by Sileoni. Tedesco was made Executive Director of the Unit of Strategic Planning and Evaluation of the Argentine Educational System, an agency within the Office of the President.
Argentine people
Argentines are the citizens of Argentina, or their descendants abroad. Argentina is a multiethnic society, which means that it is home to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. According to the , Argentina had a population of 36,260,130 inhabitants, of which 1,527,320, or 4.2%, were born...
academic and policy maker who was the President's Education Minister, from December 2007 to July 2009.
Tedesco was born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1944. Enrolling at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, he graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Letters in 1968. He taught as Professor of Educational History in the Universities of La Plata, El Comahue
National University of Comahue
The National University of Comahue is an Argentine national university with branches in the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut, with a center in the city of Neuquén and units in Viedma, Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes, Cipolletti, Zapala, Allen, Río Negro, General Roca, Río Negro,...
and La Pampa
National University of La Pampa
The National University of La Pampa is an Argentine national university, situated in the city of Santa Rosa, capital of La Pampa Province.-See also:*** Argentine Universities...
and authored his first book, Education and Society in Argentina, 1800-1945, in 1972.
Tedesco was appointed as an education policy specialist in 1976 for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's Latin American Development and Education Project. He became Director of UNESCO's Regional Center for Latin American Higher Education in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
between 1982 and 1986 and of their Regional Education Center in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
between 1986 and 1992. Repression suffered by Argentine educators and students during its last dictatorship
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
led Tedesco to co-author a criticism of the problem, The Authoritarian Educational Agenda, with Cecilia Braslavsky in 1983.
The experience earned him the post of Director of the IBE
International Bureau of Education
The International Bureau of Education is a UNESCO center specializing in education, whose goal is to facilitate the provision of quality education throughout the world.-History:...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, a position he held until 1997, and as head of the Buenos Aires UNESCO bureau, until 2004. Tedesco returned to Academia, dividing his time between the private Universidad de San Andrés and the public National University of Tres de Febrero
National University of Tres de Febrero
The National University of Tres de Febrero is an Argentine national university.-Graduate Study Programs:*Bachelor Degree in Business Administration*Bachelor Degree in Social Politics Administration and Management*Bachelor Degree in Public Administration...
, both outside Buenos Aires. He was subsequently appointed to the Federal Teacher Training Commission by Education Minister Daniel Filmus, who replaced Vice Minister Alberto Sileoni
Alberto Sileoni
Alberto Sileoni is an Argentine academic and policy maker, currently the President's Minister of Education.Alberto Sileoni enrolled in the University of Buenos Aires and earned a degree in History, in 1975. He later taught the discipline at his alma mater, and in 1993, was named Director of Adult...
with Tedesco in April 2006.
The October 2007 election
Argentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
of Filmus as Senator
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
for the city of Buenos Aires and of Senator Cristina Kirchner as President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
led to Tedesco's swearing-in as Education Minister on December 10, 2007. Following a defeat in the June 28, 2009, mid-term elections
Argentine legislative election, 2009
Legislative elections were held in Argentina for half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the seats in the Senate on 28 June 2009, as well as for the legislature of the City of Buenos Aires and other municipalities.-Background:...
and a resulting cabinet shake-up, however, he was replaced on July 20 by Sileoni. Tedesco was made Executive Director of the Unit of Strategic Planning and Evaluation of the Argentine Educational System, an agency within the Office of the President.