Education: The first step to a better Latin America

Statistics An estimated 20 million secondary-age children

in Latin America don't attend primary or secondary school

In Brazil, 24 per cent of primary-school pupils and 18 per cent of secondary school students are repeaters

For every 100 children who enter primary school in Nicaragua, only 55 reach Grade 5

Argentina has the highest "survival rate", with 94 per cent of pupils reaching Grade 5

Latin America and Caribbean Regional Report, published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 1998.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106780/Latin-Americans-See-Barriers-Educational-Opportunity.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106780/Latin-Americans-See-Barriers-Educational-Opportunity.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106780/Latin-Americans-See-Barriers-Educational-Opportunity.aspx

Proportion enrolled by age and level of education

Proportion enrolled by age and level of education

What can improving education achieve?

Political Awareness Crime Reduction Economic Development Lower Inequality Stronger Civil Society Social Awareness and

Tolerance Enhanced Democracy

How can you improve Education?

Funding

IGOs and NGOs• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

o Supports over 300 projects for social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with an average of $10 billion in financing a year

o 47 state members, 26 are in Latin Americao June, 2008, approved $58 million for Rio Negro,

Argentina to extend the school days to 8 hours “to promote equity in educational opportunities”

o March 2008, $2.7 billion to Argentina to improve equity, quality and coverage

• La Comisión Económica para América Latina (CEPAL)

• The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)o Its goal is to provide long-term financing for

endeavors that contribute to development.o This includes social investments, such as,

education and health, family agriculture, basic sanitation and mass transportation

o Last year, BNDS financed $4.2 billion worth of investments world-wide

• The Bank of the South?

• Other Current Regional IGOs:o Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo

AUGMo Centro de Información Sobre Tecnología Educativa

Para Latinoamerica CITELAo Confederación Universitaria Centroamericana CSUCAo Consejo Latinoamericano de Escuelas de

Administración CLADEAo Inter-American Organization for Higher Education

OUI-IOHEo Latin American Studies LANICo Law Schools in Latin America & the Caribbeano Nueva Alejandríao PREAL Programa de Promoción de la Reforma

Educativa en América Latina y el Caribeo Unión de Universidades de América Latina UDUAL

UNESCO• “Education for All” by 2015

(IESALC)• Conferencia Regional de Educación Superior

UN Millennium Development Goals College athletic programs (namely soccer)

to increase budget and provide scholarships to economically disadvantaged students

Combine private equity and public subsidization—funding should be a mix of public and private funds

“The Celebrity Solution”

Incentive to Attend and Succeed in Primary and Secondary Schools “Head Start” model One free meal per day for

each student Basic medical attention Fine parents who do not

force their children to go to school

Use local police as truancy officers

Increase parental and community involvement• Make schools a center piece in community activities

(voting center, community vaccinations, meeting venue, etc.)

Improving Quality of Education

Primary and Secondary• Cultural Inclusion• Curriculum should

include courses aimed at preparing students and exposing them to cultural diversities and economic inequalities

• Increased teaching standards create more academic competition and greater overall achievement

• Increased teacher salaries create more prestige• New, innovative teaching models

• Paulo Freire: “Critical Pedagogy” from “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”• Create a democratic classroom to prepare students to be active

members in society, where they are able to make collective decisions regarding their academic environment.

Higher Education• Curriculum should include a more broad

variety of studies in addition to the chosen field (i.e. a more liberal arts education)

• In depth ethics courses should be required for all specialized fields of study

• For law schools, an emphasis should be placed on teaching and learning “law”, not “formality”

Improving Access to Education

Primary and Secondary• Fund the building of new schools in rural areas• Provide public

transportation

Universities• Combine private

equity and public subsidization

• Reformed application criteria

"In Latin America and the Caribbean, universities account for the production of 85% to 90% of knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the role of higher education in the production of knowledge of the region. Institutions of higher education are strategic actors for national development. We need to integrate the knowledge society. Countries not able to support and develop on-going education policies are going to remain dependent"

President of the Regional Conference (CRES 2008), Ana Lúcia Gazzola, hosted in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia by the International Institute of Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC)

A Current Movement:CRES-2008

“…The objective is to establish a scenario that makes it possible to articulate in a creative and sustainable manner policies that strengthen the social commitment, quality and pertinence of higher education and the autonomy of Universities. These policies should point toward higher education for all, and have as a goal the achievement of greater social coverage with quality, equity, and commitment to our peoples.”

The Declaration of the Regional Conference of Higher Education in Latin and the Caribbean

http://www.cres2008.org/en/noticias_detail.php?linkId=198