It took 17 days for rescue workers to make contact with 33 miners, trapped from the collapse of a copper and gold mine near the Chilean city of Copiapo, 2,000 feet below the surface of the ground. The incident occurred August 5 after part of the San Jose mine collapsed. Unable to escape, the miners found their way to a designated safety area and two days worth of emergency food supplies. Among them, they managed to ration the food, stretching it to last two weeks. Just around that time Chilean workers above made small bore holes to communicate and send food, supplies and LED lights down to the miners.
With the help of NASA engineers, the Chilean Navy used a high-tech capsule to bring the miners one by one to the surface nearly 69 days after the initial collapse. The capsule necessitated drilling through the extremely hard copper and gold terrain. The 33 miners brought back successfully to the surface were trapped the longest period of time in history anyone had spent underground. Reports said NASA provided the miners with a liquid diet high in calories, which would prevent the miners from vomiting on the 20 minute, curving ride up to the surface. They were given compression socks as well as Asprin, to prevent any blood clots from forming, as well as dark glasses to protect their eyes from the exposure to light. The miners were closely monitored while riding in the capsule.
The amazing part of this odyssey so well reported was the discipline and self control of the Chilean people and the professional ability of so many technicians and workers. Even the women who were certainly very affected by the lengthy rescue process did not let their emotion overcome their expectation. They show courage and relied on the patriotic ability of those who were involved in the rescue process at all level. All together, they gave to the world a vivid example of amazing achievement. In fact, it was the result of exceptional instruction and training. The men underground did not fight over the little food they had left. On the contrary, they jointly decided to stretch to two weeks what could be consumed in two days. They talked to each other, they sang and may be prayed together. They gave supportive hope to each other, and respected the established order of their lift to safety and their love ones.
Considering that Chile had produced not only high caliber technicians and skillful workers, but Nobel Price winners in literature and world respected intellectuals, it was normal to look into the educational system of this unusual country that look like an addenda on the west side of South America. In fact, the shape of Chile is a distinctive ribbon of land 2,700 mi long and on average 109 mi wide. occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its educational system includes: Pre-school for children up to 5 years old, optional for 1st grade; Primary school: (Basic) for children from 5–13 years old, divided into 8 grades: Secondary school: (Intermediate) for teenagers from 13–18 years old, divided into 4 grades. The Secondary school is also divided into:
1. Scientific-humanities approach: From 11th grade in high school, students can choose a major in either science (math, physics, chemistry, biology), or humanities (literature, history, philosophy), which means they will get more lessons in the areas of their choice; 2.Technical-Professional education: Students receive ‘extra’ education in the so-called ‘technical’ areas, such as electricity, mechanics, metal assembly, etc. This second type of education is more typical of public schools (Lycées), to give students from poorer areas a chance to work right away after completion of high school, as a way to fund a possible higher education career later.
The university is a system divided in public or ‘state’ universities and a private system.
When will the Haitian educators look into a more appropriate educational system?