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Education Reform Strategies in Guatemala

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Education Reform Strategies in Guatemala

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Education policies

1. Access and enrollment

2. Quality of education

3. Management model

4. Human resources

5. Intercultural and bilingual education

6. Equity

7. Investment increase

8. Institutional strengthening and decentralization

Priority programs

1. Intercultural bilingual education

2. In-service teacher development and professionalization

3. National Reading Program “Let’sread together”

4. National School Accompaniment System

5. Strengthening of students’ support programs

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Preserving Guatemala’s Ancient Dance of the Gods

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Maya Isn't Dead: Language Stories║Lindsay Does Languages Video

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These are fresh green poblano chilies stuffed with cheese, meat, and vegetables and deep-fried in a light batter.

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Ciudad de Guatemala, also known as Guatemala City, is the capital city of Guatemala. Other major cities include: Villa Nueva: Mixco; Calle Real de Petapa; San Miguel Petapa; San Juan Sacatepéquez; & Quetzaltenango

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Fried black bean paste. Black beans (frijoles negros) are another Mayan staple eaten at almost every meal

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A dish (also known as "God’s meal") that contains chicken, beef, or pork cooked in a spiced sauce.

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A fried bread served with syrup.

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Guatemalan coffee is considered some of the best in the world. It is most commonly brewed weak and loaded with plenty of sugar.

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Tamales are the most important ceremonial food.

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The predominant religion in Guatemala is Christianity, with about 98 percent of the population. The remaining 2 percent follow traditional Mayan religious beliefs. The dominant Christian sect in the country is Roman Catholicism, adhered to by about 60 percent of the country’s population. Protestants (mostly Evangelicals) make up the remaining 38 percent. The main Protestant groups in Guatemala are the Full Gospel Church, Assembly of God, Central American Church, and Prince of Peace Church. Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, and independent evangelical denominations also have some adherents.

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Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. It borders the Caribbean, between Honduras and Belize, and also borders the Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico. It has a territory of about 42,000 square miles (slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Tennessee) and a population of about 11 million people, the majority of which are Mestizo (Amerindian or mixed Amerindian-Spanish). The official language is Spanish, but some 28 indigenous languages are also spoken.

Guatemala enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, with an average temperature above 20C (75F) in the mountains, somewhat warmer along the South Pacific Coast and the Tropical Lowlands of the Peten Region and Caribbean Coast. Cooler averages are found in Quetzaltenango and the Western Highlands. Guatemala is a small country, but it has much to offer the visitor who has opted to travel this ecologically beautiful and culture-rich region. Its natural wonders include truly breathtaking mountains, lakes, volcanoes, flora and fauna. Guatemala boasts a number of black-volcanic sand beaches on the Pacific Ocean, and some large coral reefs on the Caribbean side. Guatemala ranks very high in biological diversity, and has numerous tropical low rainforests and mountain cloud forests.

In addition to its natural treasures, Guatemala also has some of the largest and most fascinating Mayan ruins found anywhere in Latin America. The most famous of these ruins is Tikal, making it a very popular destination during a trip to Guatemala. The Mayan population, which is composed of several distinct groups including the Quiche, Kakchiquel and Mam in the Western Highlands, still proudly maintain their ancient culture and traditions; for many Spanish is a second language to be learned in primary school.

Culture of Guatemala

On a trip to Guatemala you will discover a culture that reflects strong Mayan and Spanish influences, and that continues to be defined as a contrast between poor Mayan villagers in the rural highlands, and the urbanized and relatively wealthy mestizos population (known in Guatemala as ladinos) who occupy the cities and surrounding agricultural plains. With the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores, power was transferred to the foreigners, and their mixed-race descendants, the ladino, became the new powerful families of Guatemala. Unlike in much of the rest of the New World, however, the Europeans did not completely marginalize or supplant the indigenous people, but rather formed an uneasy alliance.

While Spanish became the official language mandated in schools, various Mayan languages never died out, and are still widely-spoken throughout the highlands today. The music of Guatemala comprises several styles and expressions. The Maya had an intense musical practice. Guatemala was also one of the first regions in the New World to be introduced to European music, beginning in 1524. Many composers from the Renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary music styles have contributed works of all genres, of very high quality. The marimba is Guatemala's national instrument. The marimba is made of keys or bars (usually made of wood) that produce musical tones when struck with mallets. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys to aid the performer both visually and physically.

Although Spanish is the official language, it is not universally spoken among the indigenous population, nor is it often spoken as a second language. During a Guatemala trip you may hear up to twenty-one distinct Mayan languages are spoken, especially in rural areas. In addition, there are several non-Mayan Amerindian languages, such as the indigenous Xinca, and Garifuna, an Arawakan language spoken on the Caribbean coast.

The Maya peoples are known for their brightly colored yarn-based textiles, which are woven into capes, shirts, blouses, and dresses. Each village has its own distinctive pattern, making it possible to distinguish a person's hometown on sight. Women's clothing consists of a shirt (camisa) and a long skirt (falda).

Roman Catholicism combined with the indigenous Maya religion to form the unique syncretic religion that prevailed throughout the country and continues to do so in the rural regions. The unique religion is reflected in the local saint, Maximón, who is associated with the subterranean force of masculine fertility and prostitution. Always depicted in black, he wears a black hat and sits on a chair, often with a cigar placed in his mouth and a gun in his hand, with offerings of tobacco, alcohol, and Coca-cola at his feet. The locals know him as San Simon of Guatemala. Beginning from negligible roots prior to 1960, however, Protestant Pentecostalism has grown to become the predominant religion of Guatemala City and other urban centers and down to mid-sized towns.

1960 was also the approximate start of the long and brutal Civil War, which pitted the wealthier urban ladinos against the poorer rural Mayans. Both sides engaged in death squad tactics, although by all counts the losses were far greater on the villagers' side as the ladinos controlled the government and the military. The government hit squads were aided by the traditional practice of Mayan villagers wearing distinctive fabrics identifying their home village, allowing the government soldiers to kill suspected anti-government villagers on sight. The civil war forced moderates and the middle class to either take sides or flee the country, further polarizing the country. After 36 years of war and approximately 100,000 deaths, a peace agreement was brokered in 1996 and the country has been gradually healing since that time. Understandably, great animosity still exists between rich and poor, Maya and ladino, although they all identify themselves as Guatemalan.

Guatemala City is home to many of the nation's libraries and museums, including the National Archives, the National Library, and the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, which has an extensive collection of Maya artifacts. There are private museums, such as the Ixchel, which focuses on textiles, and the Popol Vuh, which focuses on Mayan archeology. Both museums are housed inside the Universidad Francisco Marroquín campus. The Guatemala National Prize in Literature is a one-time only award that recognizes an individual writer's body of work. It has been given annually since 1988 by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Miguel Angel Asturias, won the Literature Nobel Prize in 1967. Among his most famous books is "El Señor Presidente", a novel based on the government of Manuel Estrada Cabrera.

A Look into Guatemala Politics

Guatemala's political structure is a presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of Guatemala has both positions of head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Congress of the Republic.

The Congress of the Republic is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Guatemala. It comprises 158 deputies, who are elected by direct universal suffrage to serve four-year terms (the number was increased from 113 for the 2003 election). The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Guatemala's 1985 Constitution provides for a separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

The 1993 constitutional reforms included an increase in the number of Supreme Court justices from 9 to 13. The terms of office for president, vice president, and congressional deputies were reduced from five years to four years; for Supreme Court justices from six years to five years, and increased the terms of mayors and city councils from 30 months to four years.

The Constitutional Court is Guatemala's highest court. It is composed of five judges, elected for concurrent five-year terms by Congress, each serving one year as president of the Court: one is elected by Congress, one elected by the Supreme Court of Justice, one is appointed by the President, one is elected by Superior Council of the Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, and one by the bar association.

The Supreme Court of Justice comprises thirteen members, who serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number. The president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms). The 1999 presidential and legislative elections were considered by international observers to have been free and fair. Participation by women and indigenous voters was higher than in the recent past, although concerns remained regarding the accessibility of polling places in rural areas.

Guatemala Cuisine and Coffee

Although Guatemala does not have one national dish, many foods have emerged as diet staples for everyday use. As it was during Mayan times, corn continues to be a staple. Most often it is made into tortillas, served warm and wrapped in cloth. Another Mayan food, black beans, are also widely consumed, often at every meal. They are prepared in a variety of ways, from refried to mashed to simply eaten whole. Other staples include rice, eggs, and cheese.

As in the U.S., the most popular proteins are chicken, turkey, and beef. These are normally served with beans and rice and are prepared roasted, grilled, or fried. They can also be cooked into stews. Pepian is a thick stew with meat and vegetables that is especially common in Antigua. Delicious seafood can be found on the coasts, prepared roasted, grilled, or fried, with a variety of spices. Although more caloric snacks such as doughnuts are popular (similar to the U.S.), an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables help to maintain a healthy diet. It is not difficult to fit in the daily portion of fruits and vegetables when options like fresh mangoes, papayas, bananas, yucca, and plantains are available almost year-round.

Coffee is a large industry in Guatemala, and the region produces some of the best in the world. A trip to Guatemala should definitely include taking the time to sample the rich local coffees and their dark flavors. There are seven distinct types of Arabica coffee in Guatemala, distinctive in taste due to their soil, altitude, humidity, and rainfall. Travelers to Guatemala will therefore have no trouble finding a range of exceptional coffee, and may even be able to see a coffee finca or two, as well as mounds of beans drying in the sun and smell their distinct aroma. Other common refreshments include licuados, which are sweetened fruit juice mixed with water or milk, as well as soft drinks.

The following are a few popular dishes that travelers should try during their Guatemala tour: Churrasco - charcoal-grilled center-cut beef tenderloin steak Chiles Rellenos - Roasted fresh green Anaheim, poblano or pasilla chili pepper stuffed with a melting cheese and meat made up of diced pork, raisins, and nuts, covered in an egg batter, and fried. It is often served in a tomato sauce. Platanos - Also called plantains, these starchier, less sweet relatives of the banana can be part of every meal. When harvested before they are ripe, they can take the place of potatoes in meals, and are especially delicious when mashed and fried in round pieces, then lightly salted. This preparation is called tostones. When ripe, they can make delicious desserts, possibly baked with milk, sugar, and cinnamon.

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Guatemala Culture, Religion, Politics, Food & Coffee

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Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. It borders the Caribbean, between Honduras and Belize, and also borders the Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico. It has a territory of about 42,000 square miles (slightly smaller than the U.S.

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The ceremonial year is largely determined by the Roman Catholic Church, even for those who do not profess that faith. Thus, the Christmas period, including Advent and the Day of the Kings on 6 January, and Easter week are major holidays for everyone. The patron saints of each village, town or city are honored on their respective days. The cofradia organization, imposed by the colonial Spanish Catholic Church, is less important now, but where it persists, special foods are prepared. Tamales are the most important ceremonial food. They are eaten on all special occasions, including private parties and celebrations, and on weekends, which are special because Sunday is recognized as being a holy day, as well as a holiday. A special vegetable and meat salad called fiambreis eaten on 1 November, the Day of the Dead, when families congregate in the cemeteries to honor, placate, and share food with deceased relatives. Codfish cooked in various forms is eaten at Easter, and Christmas is again a time for gourmet tamales and ponche, a rum-based drink containing spices and fruits. Beer and rum, including a fairly raw variety known as aguardienteare the most popular alcoholic drinks, although urban elites prefer Scotch whisky.

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Culture of Guatemala - history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social

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Culture of Guatemala - history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social Ge-It

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A bicolor with three equal vertical stripes: sky blue-white-sky blue. The country's coat of arms is centered on the flag entirely within the white stripe. Symbols: The coat of arms at the center of the white stripe and the flag as a whole symbolize Guatemala's freedom. A white scroll printed with the words "Libertad 15 De Septiembre De 1821," or "Liberty September 15, 1821," the date the Federal Republic of Central America won independence from Spain, is the coat of arms’ focal point. A Quetzal perches above the scroll. This is the national bird, a beautiful emerald-green avian revered by the country's native people and considered a modern symbol of freedom. Two shotguns and two gold-hilted rapiers cross behind the scroll, while two curving laurel branches frame the coat of arms. The weapons represent the supremacy of the state and a willingness on the part of the citizenry to defend the nation's sovereignty and independence. Colors: Blue and white. The vertical sky blue stripes on the left and right sides of the flag symbolize the sky as well as the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, both of which border Guatemala. Blue also represents loyalty, truth, justice and perseverance. White symbolizes peace, honesty and purity. Variations: The national flag and naval ensign are the vertical blue-white-blue flag with the coat of arms. The civil flag and ensign are the same as the national flag, minus the coat of arms.

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Compulsory education in Guatemala lasts for 9 years, between the ages of 7 and 15. During this time, students can complete their primary and lower secondary education. Homeschooling is rare but is practiced. Schoolchildren are often expected to wear uniforms. Boys and girls are educated together and face the same requirements. Guatemala has 23 official languages (Spanish and a variety of indigenous Mayan languages), and offers an unusual multilingual education system. Some schools will teach exclusively in a Mayan language, while others may teach in Spanish and English, or other languages. The country established a new national curriculum in 2005, which is reflected in standardized textbooks that are used at many, but not all, schools in the country. The curriculum reflects an international and multicultural focus, with an extensive focus on Latin America and the world, as well as the basic areas of grade-school education such as language, science, mathematics, and history.

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Since the signing of the Peace Accords in December of 1996, Guatemala has made significant advances in providing schooling for children at the primary level (grades 1-6). The Guatemalan Ministry of Education reports that the percentage of children completing their primary education has increased from 39% in the early 90’s to 72.5% in 2006.

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A comprehensive look at the current state of education in Guatemala.

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In Guatemala teachers enter the profession with almost no specific training in how to teach children to read. These young educators begin their careers with minimal classroom management experience, little knowledge of curriculum development and few opportunities for improving their skills. This results in poor student performance and high dropout rates, especially among girls and indigenous Guatemalans.

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Skilled teachers are the cornerstone of effective education. In Guatemala teachers enter the profession with almost no specific training in how to teach children to read. These young educators begin their careers with minimal classroom management experience, little knowledge of curriculum development and few opportunities for improving their skills. This results in poor student performance and high dropout rates, especially among girls and indigenous Guatemalans.

"In our traditional training, they tell us what to do but they don't show us how," says Teacher Romeo Singuín. "Child Aid gives us a step-by-step guide to have successful results. Child Aid shows us how to work with students, and that's the difference."

Practical Approaches for New Ways of Teaching

Child Aid workshops excite teachers because they learn useful techniques to make them better teachers and have fun doing it. We aim not only to increase teachers' knowledge of best practices in literacy instruction but to change how they teach. We give them them practical strategies to help students develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. We also show teachers how to establish an environment of respect and participation in the classroom.

Teachers tell us that the new methods and techniques are having a real impact in their classrooms. Students are more enthusiastic about reading and are understanding more of what they read. They are participating in classroom activities and their skills are improving, especially their vocabulary, writing and ability to ask questions and express their own ideas.

Our Program

In Pictures

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Skilled teachers are the cornerstone of effective education. In Guatemala teachers enter the profession with almost no specific training in how to teach children to read. These young educators begin their careers with minimal classroom management experience, little knowledge of curriculum development and few opportunities for improving their skills.