Education Dept. extends appointments for more than 3,000 assistants

Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés

By The Star Staff

Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés announced Thursday the extension of appointments for 3,232 service assistants for the 2025-26 school year. The initiative is part of efforts to ensure a smooth and orderly transition at the beginning of the new academic year, he said.

“Stability in our schools is crucial so that every student receives the support they need from day one,” Ramos Parés stated. “This measure allows us to act swiftly and guarantee the continuity of essential services without interruption, especially for students who depend on these resources.”

The official noted that the decision exempts service assistants from the regular recruitment process, enabling their contracts to be extended immediately and effectively. The extension will last for one year and represents a strategic effort to strengthen direct services to the student population.

The contract extension process has been executed in all Regional Education Offices (ORE), except for the Mayagüez region, which will notify its assistants next Tuesday.

The estimated distribution of the benefited staff by educational region is as follows: Arecibo 567, Bayamón 483, Caguas 435, Humacao 372, Mayagüez 427, Ponce 526, San Juan 422. Total: 3,232.

“This effort is the result of responsible planning and a commitment to the well-being of our students,” the education chief added. “I extend my gratitude to the regional staff, as well as to the Auxiliary Secretariat of Special Education and its Human Resources Unit, for executing this process in a coordinated and efficient manner.”