Education has always been a priority in my life. I have been blessed enough to grow up in an environment where academic success was emphasized and encouraged. My parents stressed the important of attending and excelling in school- and yes, the days that I didn’t want to get out of bed they made me go anyway. Naturally, though, I have also always been intrinsically motivated to do well academically, because doing well on an exam or getting a good grade felt about as good as a shot of dopamine to the brain. I guess there is no sugar coating it- when it comes to school I have always been an overachiever- a nerd- plain and simple. But beyond my desire to please my teachers and receive a cheesy sticker at the top of an essay, I have always recognized the value and power of knowledge. I firmly believe that the more that you know, the more capable you are of living up to your full potential. What I am learning now though is that this mindset is not one that is always encouraged and that for many children around the world receiving an education is something that comes at a high price.
Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in Central America and is reported to have an illiteracy rate of over 36%. The educational infrastructure in Guatemala continues to struggle significantly. All educational facilities- from pre-school centers to universities continue to rely on state funding and as a result, suffer from a lack of funding, under-qualified teachers, and an overall lack of supplies and proper facilities. Elementary education is free and mandatory for six years, but enrollment enforcement is virtually non-existent. Additionally, only a very small percentage of children who come from upper class families have the opportunity to enter private schools.
The vast majority of children who do not attend school tend to live in the rural areas and a disproportionate number of them are indigenous -descendents of the Mayas. Even after a 36-year civil war, the indigenous population continues to be at the very bottom of Guatemalan society-politically, socially, and economically. This ongoing discrimination only increases the education gap in Guatemalan society. Many indigenous parents do not see the importance of sending their children to school, because the curriculum does not include lessons in the Mayan dialect (There are over 22 Mayan languages!) nor is there any emphasis placed on Mayan history and culture. Therefore, children remain in the home assisting with cleaning, washing, or childcare (it’s not at all uncommon to see a 6 year- old girl in the streets caring for her younger siblings) or by assisting their families financially through working in the fields or selling handmade goods (as equally a common site in the streets of Antigua where tourists are rampant). It is estimated that only 19% of indigenous adults are literate. Therefore, as you can see, all signs suggest that Guatemala has a long way before its children will ever be granted the access to the quality, culturally-sensitive education that they deserve.
On a more positive note (yes, of course you were waiting for this right?), there are organizations within Guatemala that are working to address these educational disparities and whose goals are to create a better and less bleak future for the children of Guatemala. These organizations in my opinion are invaluable and frankly, there needs to be more of them.
If interested, check out the link below. Ninos de Guatemala is a reputable organization that has made a significant impact on the children and families here in Guatemala. What you’ll learn is that a small donation of only $5 (yes, that’s what we spend on a Starbucks coffee) can fund a child’s education for an entire month! Just like you and I, these children deserve an education!
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