Rural school director in Misiones took 18 full years of leave and is accused of fraud

A rural school director from Misiones accumulated 3,363 days of leave over 18 years in office and now faces a criminal complaint for alleged defrauding of the State. This is Juan Carlos Kategora, head of School 733 in Colonia Paraíso, who collected his salary for long periods without showing up in the classroom while a substitute covered his absence.

The General Council of Education (CGE) opened an administrative inquiry to investigate whether the leaves were granted correctly and if there were any labor incompatibilities. In parallel, provincial deputy Cristian Gabriel Castro filed a criminal complaint for defrauding the Public Administration and repeated ideological falsehood in a public instrument.

The legislator also requested that the Justice Department obtain information about Kategora's trips abroad from 2006 to 2026, to assess their criminal relevance. While the director was on leave, a substitute took charge of the school located about 40 kilometers from San Vicente.

Additionally, it was revealed that Kategora was working concurrently at the company Electricidad de Misiones Sociedad Anónima (EMSA) in Posadas. The president of the CGE, Daniela López, confirmed that the agency is investigating possible incompatibilities due to that second job.

Resignation accepted but the investigation continues

After the scandal, Kategora submitted his resignation as director, and the CGE accepted it. However, López warned that the administrative inquiry will not be closed with that decision: “We have a maximum limit of 6 months to close an administrative inquiry of this nature, but we will not let this situation end with a resignation.”

Kategora was appointed in 2004 as a grade teacher and director. In 2013, he resigned from the teaching position but continued as director and received a salary with an 80 percent extra for unfavorable zone. Between 2006 and 2010, he requested 29 days for common illnesses and worked in other agencies under the figure of “labor debit.”

Since 2011, he combined leaves for task changes, common illnesses, caring for sick family members, and long-term treatment. In 2011, he was absent for 30 days due to common illnesses, 30 for caring for a sick family member, and 176 for task change. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, he also did not step into the classroom.

In 2015, he only attended a few days: he took 30 for caring for a sick family member and 52 for long-term illness. The pattern continued in the following years. In 2017, he was on medical leave for the entire year, and in 2018, he also did not go to school, although that year he posted vacation photos in the United Arab Emirates and Aruba on his social media.

Trips abroad and salary deductions

While justifying his absences with medical leaves, Kategora shared images from destinations such as the Yas Waterworld water park in Abu Dhabi and an iconic hotel in Dubai. Despite the public exposure, he did not receive sanctions nor had he been investigated until now.

In 2019 and 2020, he continued to request leaves for caring for sick family members, common illnesses, and long-term treatment. In those years, he suffered a 50 percent deduction in his pay due to excess leave days, but that did not change his behavior. In March 2022, he submitted his retirement, but it was not granted because he did not have the required contributions or age, so he continued to receive a salary as an active employee.

During 2023, 2024, and 2025, the pattern repeated with extended leaves for illness and caring for family members. So far in 2026, he has accumulated 101 days for long-term illness and 45 for caring for a sick family member. Currently, his leave extends until August 31.

The case, which came to light through a report by Revista Entérate and was confirmed by the newspaper Primera Edición, highlights a history of prolonged absences and overlapping positions that will now be investigated both administratively and criminally.