Chapter 32: That Time I Reformed Education in South America (3)

TL: Skye

After the education reform was announced, time flew by like a storm.

First, the most urgent and pressing problem of the teacher shortage was dramatically resolved when a massive wave of imported teachers was brought in.

Apparently, having stable food, housing, and livelihood did wonders for morale and efficiency.

They were given homes. Cars. Jobs.

On top of that, those who came with their families received additional settlement grants that accounted for their dependents.

At this point, from their perspective, San Marcos was practically a lifesaver.

From our perspective, we had brought in highly educated people who spoke the language at an incredibly low cost.

In truth, when you thought about it, all of this was thanks to Venezuela's President Maduro.

As recently as 2011, Venezuela had been a middle-income country with a per capita GDP exceeding $12,000.

Considering that Korea's per capita GDP at the time was just over $20,000, Venezuela had been a country in a weight class San Marcos couldn't even dream of competing with.

Naturally, the number of college-educated professionals had been substantial, but as their economy collapsed, the opportunity to recruit them presented itself.

It was a little heartbreaking when he thought about the Venezuelan people, but thanks to them, it was an enormous help in establishing San Marcos's Hundred-Year Plan.

And the benefits of the education reform didn't stop there.

"Your Excellency, here is this month's sales report for Tortilla F&B."

Following Seafood and Farm, Tortilla Company's third subsidiary, F&B, had achieved explosive growth.

It was a company that had been hastily assembled for the school meal program. The lunch boxes and dinner boxes supplied to schools actually generated almost no profit.

In fact, once logistics costs were factored in, they were operating at a slight loss.

However, that very operation had produced unexpected positive effects.

"Producing close to one million lunch boxes has allowed us to achieve economies of scale. With the mass production lines running at full capacity around the clock, fixed costs have been drastically reduced, and as a result, the production cost of our processed food products has dropped by over 30%."

By securing schools as a large and stable supply destination, raw material procurement and factory operation efficiency had shot through the roof.

As a result, Tortilla F&B's retail products gained an overwhelming price advantage.

"Our current market share in the processed food sector within San Marcos has surpassed 60%. Imported hams and sausages simply can't compete anymore."

The people were happy because they could eat cheaply, the government was happy because it saved on meal expenses, and the company was happy because it dominated the market and raked in profits.

At this point, it was fair to call this a textbook case of a self-sustaining economy.

"Who did you say the CEO of F&B was?"

"Antamoli Santos. He was appointed CEO when we merged Santos Foods."

"Ah, that's right. I remember being briefed on that."

He had received a report about acquiring Santos Foods to expedite the establishment of Tortilla F&B.

At the time, the matter had been so urgent that he had entrusted it with some unease, but looking at things now, it had turned out to be a solid appointment.

"He seems to be doing quite well."

"Yes, his performance so far has exceeded expectations. And with his extensive experience..."

"If the price competitiveness is strong enough, tell him to start pursuing exports as well."

"He's already preparing for that."

"Is that so? I should pay him a visit soon and give him some encouragement."

"He would consider it an honor."

I closed the report with a satisfied smile.

The shortage of schools and facilities would be addressed gradually over time, so there didn't seem to be anything left that required my direct involvement.

"The basic education side should be fine if we just keep things going as they are..."

All that remained now was the crowning jewel of the education reform: the establishment of a national university.

"How is the university coming along?"

"Yu-jin University has already broken ground."

"No."

They couldn't seriously be going with that name.

"Isabella. Are you really going with that name?"

"It was decided after consultation with the senior secretaries."

"Can we maybe not..."

"The name is not what matters right now."

Isabella said firmly.

"Then what..."

"What matters is that we can't find any faculty."

"Have you posted openings?"

"We've had postings up for a month now... but as of now, there are virtually no applicants."

"Hmm. As expected, it's not easy."

It was only natural, really. How many distinguished scholars would stake their careers on some obscure little country in South America that no one had heard of?

'It's not like we're offering great pay, either.'

In the United States, the average professor's salary was $150,000, and in STEM fields it easily exceeded $200,000. Factor in research funding worth millions of dollars, and there was simply no reason to come to San Marcos.

Then again, importing from Venezuela wasn't a viable option this time either.

Unlike the bachelor's-level graduates recruited this time, those with doctorates had fled to the United States or Europe.

On top of that, they wouldn't even meet the hiring standards.

"What about lowering the bar a little? Among those who earned their doctorates from Mexican or Brazilian universities, there are surely some willing to come."

A pragmatic compromise. But I shook my head firmly.

"That won't do. If we seat mediocre people as professors, the students who learn under them will plateau at exactly that level. Then we'll never escape being a second-rate nation."

Given the university system's structure of producing graduates year after year, the first graduating class would be the first to establish themselves in the workforce.

Subsequent graduates would naturally look up to those first alumni as their mentors and learn from them.

But what if those mentors were B-grade or C-grade?

Even someone with A-grade potential would inevitably fall short.

In a country like Korea, hiring decisions were made based on ability, but San Marcos was different.

With virtually no college graduates, anyone who submitted an application had a near 100% chance of getting hired.

Considering these circumstances, producing A-grade talent from the very beginning was the only way to create a virtuous cycle.

The problem was.

"Should I just kidnap some at this point..."

Right above them sat the United States, a black hole that sucked up top-tier talent.

When the conditions couldn't even compare, why would anyone bother coming all the way to San Marcos?

Even I would choose America over this place.

Just as I was seriously considering whether to lower the standards, Isabella offered an unexpected suggestion.

"It's a bit difficult, but there might be one way."

"Even if it's difficult, we have to try. This is about building the nation's Hundred-Year Plan. What is it?"

"We bring back the people who went into exile."

"Ex... ile?"

"During the war of independence, there was a man named General Abeiro. He led the fight for independence alongside President Juan Marcos, but..."

Isabella's explanation went like this.

During the war of independence against Portugal, there had been two factions within the independence army.

One was the faction led by President Juan Marcos, which had actually commanded the troops and fought the battles. The other was Abeiro's faction, which had handled the funding and supply lines for the independence forces.

Years passed, and they won their fight against Portugal, achieving the independence they had dreamed of. But the problems began after that.

They began fighting over the spoils of power. Juan and Abeiro each claimed that their contributions had been greater and hoped to become president.

And the winner of that struggle was, unsurprisingly, President Juan Marcos, who held military command.

"So? What happened? Don't tell me he purged them."

"President Juan Marcos wasn't ruthless enough for that. He said he couldn't bring himself to kill comrades he'd bled alongside, so he settled for exile instead. He even gave them money to get settled and helped them seek asylum in other countries."

"...Not the worst outcome, then. But why didn't I know about this?"

"Because it's something that's practically taboo to speak of. I wouldn't have known either if my father hadn't told me."

"Hmm, I see. Are you suggesting we bring Abeiro back?"

"Abeiro was 27 years older than former President Juan Marcos. He passed away over a decade ago. They've already held his funeral."

"Then?"

"When Abeiro left for the United States, he had three sons. As befitting the heirs of a distinguished family, they were all said to be brilliant young men."

"......"

Isabella's eyes gleamed as she spoke.

"With the passage of time, all three of them have become scholars recognized as the very best in American academia."

"That accomplished?"

I knew well enough myself, having no shortage of academic credentials, just how difficult it was to be recognized in American academia.

American academia was where the brightest minds from around the world gathered, gained admission to Ivy League schools, earned their doctorates, and competed against one another.

In other words, being recognized there meant being among the very best in the entire world.

"The eldest holds a doctorate in economics from Harvard and served as a professor at the University of Chicago. The second holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from MIT and served as a senior researcher at NASA. And the third..."

She paused for a moment.

"He is an endowed chair professor of chemistry at Caltech, and just two years ago he was named as a leading candidate for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry."

"...Wow."

My jaw dropped.

"The timing is also fortunate. I've heard that all three have retired and are living quietly on the East Coast."

"So that's why you're suggesting we persuade them to come back."

"Yes. Scholars of their caliber would have plenty of former students they could bring along."

It was certainly an attractive proposal. If they returned, it would more than lay the foundation for a San Marcos national university.

However.

"But... would persuading them even be possible? For them, San Marcos is the homeland that cast out their father. I doubt they'd be very receptive."

"Of course it won't be easy. But..."

Isabella fixed on him with a determined gaze.

"San Marcos is changing now. If we show them that change and make our case sincerely, I believe there's a chance."

A weight settled in his chest. In a way, these were people who had been abandoned by their nation.

He couldn't even begin to imagine how much they had suffered in a foreign land where they didn't even speak the language.

To now go to such people and ask them to help for the sake of the nation, well, even getting slapped across the face would be deserved.

But even so, for the sake of San Marcos's Hundred-Year Plan, they had to be persuaded.

And the one to do it had to be none other than himself.

"Can you arrange an invitation for them?"

"I can go and persuade them myself."

"No. These are people who were cast out by their nation. It's only right that the person with the highest authority step forward. And..."

"......"

"I am, after all, the icon of reconciliation, forgiveness, and national unity. You could say I'm the perfect person for this kind of thing."

"I... I suppose so."

Apparently moved, Isabella nodded while scrunching her brow.

***

A few days later. Yu-jin sat in the Small Reception Room of the Presidential Palace, his expression tense.

Today was the day the exiled scholars, abandoned by San Marcos, were scheduled to visit.

Whether he could persuade them or not would determine the success or failure of San Marcos's national university, so Yu-jin had every reason to be nervous.

But at the same time, he steeled himself.

'Even if it doesn't work out, I'll accept it.'

These were people who had been abandoned by their homeland.

Though he wasn't the one who had driven them out, in their eyes, he and Juan were no different.

"Your Excellency, they've arrived at the airport."

"Is that so? Please have them escorted here with the utmost courtesy."

"How about sending SIA agents to set the tone? We could also station armed guards in the reception room."

"...Just bring them here without any of that. Please."

"Yes, sir."

A short while later. Yu-jin greeted the three scholars with the deepest courtesy.

"It is an honor to meet you. My name is Yu-jin Choi, and I serve as the Acting President of San Marcos. The reason I have invited all three of you here today is to restore the honor of your late father and, at the same time..."

In less than five minutes.

"Understood. We will return to San Marcos."

"...Pardon?"

He had succeeded in persuading all three.

*****

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