The Guatemalan education system is one plagued by many issues and contains many variables. The more I read about it the more I am moved to help. A famous quote by the American education reformer Horace Mann, he wrote " Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery."
The typical school year in Guatemala runs from January through October. It consists of Primary education, (6 years) Middle education or Basico, (3 years) and Secondary education or Diversificado, (3 years). In theory the first 6 years of education are free and mandatory, Basico is their version of our junior high, and Diversificado is a specialized high school education with studies including teaching, bookkeeping, computers, and even tourism. The Tertiary level of education, college, consists of public and private universities with many levels of education to achieve different degrees.
According to the Center for Economic and Social rights (CESR) the Guatemalan government spends only 2.6% of GDP on education. This is the lowest of 17 other countries categorized as Latin America and the Caribbean. Primary school enrollment has made minor improvements, but completion rates are second lowest in comparison to other countries with even lower GDP rates per capita. The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, reports on average Guatemalan children attend only 4 years of schooling and 3 out of 10 students graduate from the sixth grade. The literacy rates, (CESR) though have improved to 75.9%-88%, Guatemala still ranks lowest by comparison. The literacy rates see an enormous drop as you move from urban males to the rural, indigenous female. This is additional 20% decrease.
A recent article by Homeschool Spanish Academy shares more facts about the failed education system in Guatemala. Fact #4 simply states that "High school graduation is not synonymous with knowledge." Well written and worth the read, click the link to learn more. 6 Alarming Facts About Education in Guatemala (spanish.academy)
Stricken by poverty and prejudice, families make choices of desperation to fulfill basic needs. Kids are removed from schooling early because the families can't afford it and the ones that do progress, face the discrimination of employers with low wages based on race, language, and education level. The entire system is somewhat broken and in need of an overhaul. If you combine this all together it perpetuates a viscous cycle to those who wish to get out of it. Additional struggles include chronic malnutrition, high child mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, just to add a few.
I have only scratched the surface of the issues facing the Guatemalan education system and the dynamic that surrounds it. The harshness of these facts is their everyday reality. The answer is not an easy one to sustain and our intent is to provide a vehicle of opportunity for them to develop the skills necessary for success with a desperately needed higher education program leveraging hurdles they cannot surpass alone.
Through these acts of kindness and charity, we can provide the positive mindset of humanity and plant the seeds for an opportunity and provide for its growth. As you see, the education system goes far beyond the classroom. Help us regenerate their spirit!
The typical school year in Guatemala runs from January through October. It consists of Primary education, (6 years) Middle education or Basico, (3 years) and Secondary education or Diversificado, (3 years). In theory the first 6 years of education are free and mandatory, Basico is their version of our junior high, and Diversificado is a specialized high school education with studies including teaching, bookkeeping, computers, and even tourism. The Tertiary level of education, college, consists of public and private universities with many levels of education to achieve different degrees.
According to the Center for Economic and Social rights (CESR) the Guatemalan government spends only 2.6% of GDP on education. This is the lowest of 17 other countries categorized as Latin America and the Caribbean. Primary school enrollment has made minor improvements, but completion rates are second lowest in comparison to other countries with even lower GDP rates per capita. The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, reports on average Guatemalan children attend only 4 years of schooling and 3 out of 10 students graduate from the sixth grade. The literacy rates, (CESR) though have improved to 75.9%-88%, Guatemala still ranks lowest by comparison. The literacy rates see an enormous drop as you move from urban males to the rural, indigenous female. This is additional 20% decrease.
A recent article by Homeschool Spanish Academy shares more facts about the failed education system in Guatemala. Fact #4 simply states that "High school graduation is not synonymous with knowledge." Well written and worth the read, click the link to learn more. 6 Alarming Facts About Education in Guatemala (spanish.academy)
Stricken by poverty and prejudice, families make choices of desperation to fulfill basic needs. Kids are removed from schooling early because the families can't afford it and the ones that do progress, face the discrimination of employers with low wages based on race, language, and education level. The entire system is somewhat broken and in need of an overhaul. If you combine this all together it perpetuates a viscous cycle to those who wish to get out of it. Additional struggles include chronic malnutrition, high child mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, just to add a few.
I have only scratched the surface of the issues facing the Guatemalan education system and the dynamic that surrounds it. The harshness of these facts is their everyday reality. The answer is not an easy one to sustain and our intent is to provide a vehicle of opportunity for them to develop the skills necessary for success with a desperately needed higher education program leveraging hurdles they cannot surpass alone.
Through these acts of kindness and charity, we can provide the positive mindset of humanity and plant the seeds for an opportunity and provide for its growth. As you see, the education system goes far beyond the classroom. Help us regenerate their spirit!
