a look at the curriculum May 7, 2010

I have been reading the curriculum of education of Honduras this past couple of days, and as I read, my disappointment grows.

Every statistic is outdated. Every single one. 

The last statistic, in terms of population and poverty lines is from the late 90s. It has been almost ten years, and the country can not update this. This shows how much little value the Honduran government puts into education.

  There is some decent information in there, but most of it is not put into use.

  What saddens me the most if that in the 1990s, under President Rafael Callejas, the government tried to implement a program to improve education and modify the curriculum, and from what I have read, this was the last time the country tried to do this, and the program wasn’t fully implemented.

  Honduran leaders know that the education system in the country is below par, it is considered one of the worst in the Western Hemisphere, yet they have not do anything to change this.

  According to the plan suggested under Callejas government, Honduran education would have improved by 2005… it didn’t. It got worst.

 Children in public schools received only 100 days of classes, each of the past three years. most of this was because teachers went out and protested  or political reasons. this is less than half of what the kids should have received. But yet kids moved on to the next grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video of Honduran children receiving school supplies April 28, 2010

My family and I make a trip every year, during Christmas time, to different rural schools in Honduras. During these visits we take toys to the children and school supplies to the teachers. The joy in the children’s face to see coloring books and crayons is beyond anyone’s imagination. They are so appreciative of everything they can get.

(** this video is not from one of our trips)

When we visit these schools, we learn first hand, not only about the conditions these kids are in, but also about the quality of education they receive. Some of the “teachers” have not even finished 5th grade, but they are the only ones in the town that can somewhat read and write, so they are made into teachers.

The schools are usually made up of one building, which really is a small room. Children from 4 yrs – 10 yrs old attend the school at one time. After 10 yrs they are usually taken out of school by their parents to work in the fields.

It is hard for them to get supplies, since the towns are usually up in a mountain somewhere no one but them knows about. The children usually travel miles by foot(some times with bare feet) to attend school, because they love it, they are eager to learn. Sometime because while they are at school might be the only time they get to eat that day, as most schools provide lunch for the children, and because they get to escape from having to work.

Lets Compare. April 26, 2010

Guatemala

El Salvador

Nicaragua

Honduras

Costa Rica

Panama

population

14.36 million

7.2 million

5,891,199

7.8 million

4.299 million

3,360,475

Investment from National Budget

13.02 percent

18 percent

31 percent

28 percent

Higher Education enrollment

26 percent(secondary)

18 percent

12 percent

10 percent

47 percent(secondary)

32percent

enrollment in primary schools

88 percent

92.4 percent

102 percent

94 percent

99 percent

95 percent

Literacy rate

70.6 percent

86.1 percent

81 percent

72.7 percent

96 percent

92.6 percent

by the numbers April 26, 2010

 

As it stands right now, the public education system in Honduras is nothing but a joke.

According to a report released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the education system in Honduras is 100 years behind, compared to other Central American countries, like Panama and Costa Rica.

The United Nations called the Honduran education system the worst in Central American.  This is because only 32 out of 100 students finish elementary school, without being held back a grade. And there are 900,000 illiterates in the country, half of which are between 15-24 years old. In the rural areas illiteracy surpasses 90 percent of the population

Retention rates in areas like math and science is only of 46.7 and according to a study by the Iberoamerican Federation of Ombusdman in the last three years the children in the country have only received 100 days of classes, half of what should have been taught.

  

Honduran Population-6,249,598

Literacy rate: 72.7 percent

Academic year- Februrary-November

Number of Primary schools-8,114

Public Expenditure on Education- 3.6 percent

Enrollment

                   Primary-1,008,181

                   Secondary-203,192

                   Higher-54,106

Teachers

                 Primary-28,888

                 Secondary-10,203

                 Higher- 4,078

***These numbers are according to http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/615/Honduras.html

Theme April 19, 2010

What is wrong with the education system in Honduras?

 I will answer this question by focusing on the factors I believe contribute to the systems failure:

1. Who makes the decisions? A look at who the minister of education, Alejandro Ventura is. Is he qualified for the position?

2. Who are the teachers? What are their qualifications?

3. A look at the content and curriculum being taught.

4. Numbers- drop-outs, enrollment, iliteracy…etc

5.Accesability to education for the people of Honduras.

6.The role poverty plays in the education system of the country.

7. A look at the constant protesting by educators in the country. What are they protesting, how often…etc?

My plan April 12, 2010

• To me the biggest isue with the education system around the world is that the people making all the decisions, usually, have never been educators. They don’t know what it is like to be one day in a classroom teaching. They don’t know what works and what doesnt, how children learn and what doesnt.
• Therefore, my first question will be to 1.Find out who these people are, their background, how long have they served as advocates for education, their platforms?
• In third world countries, particularly in Latin America, the public school systems are “disgusting”, not solely on the curriculum, but because educators are always protesting, children miss months of school in a year because of this, I want to know 2.why so many protests? What makes these teachers want to stand out on the streets rather than be in their classrooms teaching?
• My grandmother was a teacher, and two of my sisters are teachers in Honduras. They are all doing a great job in the profession they have chose, but what saddens me is that neither of them have studied to be teachers…they are learning as they go. Many people feel that teaching is an easy job, it is not. I think one of the reason why education systems around the world are failing is because anyone and everyone is teaching the children. 4. What are the requirements to be a teacher in third world countries, in the U.S.? What is the point of getting a degree in education, if I obviously don’t need it?
• There are so many things that go into teaching. As a teacher you have to be a psychologist, a friend, a disciplinarian, a parent etc, a researcher, and educator etc. Many people have done research on what constitues a good educator, the qualities of one, I want to find out 5. what these are?
• Education in America and the thrid world is not much different, both systems are heavily flawed and both systems have some good in them. It is important to know 6. what these systems share and what is different about them?
• I came to America when I was 11 years old, I was in a bilingual private school when I was in Honduras. My first day of school in Houston, I was so nervous, I had no faith in the Honduran education system. I did not sleep the night before… ‘were people going to laugh at my english? Was I going to be able to read infront of the class?’ I cried myself to sleep thinking people were going judge me for not being as smart as they were… I was so wrong. My first coupleof years in the American education system were a breeze… I was more advance than my classmates, particularly in the social studies fields(world history, geography) and english.  I had learned things in 5^th grade in Honduras, my classmates in 7^th grade in Houston were beggining to learn. The education system in Honduras did not fail me! Although I went to private school in honduras, the only major difference between my education and the education the son of our maid was receiving, was that I was also learning in English. The curriculum in Latin Ameica is tough (to me tougher than the American curriculm) Knowing this, I want to learn 7.what factors contribute to low enrollemnts in higher education in Latin America? (poverty can not be the only one, there are free universities)
• I think it is also important to look at the numbers. 8.How many people in America graduate from high school compared to other countries of the world. The drop out rate numbers? The number of people that enroll in universities and graduate with a degree.

who is doing something about it March 29, 2010

Through some research I have found some organiztions that are doing a great job at improving education worldwide, and wanted to share.

1goal.net- “1GOAL is a campaign seizing the power of football to ensure that education for all is a lasting impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Raising our voices all over the world we believe that, together, we can make education a reality for the millions of boys and girls who remain out of school.”

This is a great organization because they are using something like soccer,which many children in Latin America love,to promote education

http://www.join1goal.org/

one.org- One is probably one of the most recognizables campaigns out there. They bring awareness to social issues like HIV/AIDs, maternal and child health, climate and education.

http://www.one.org/us/

Pies descalzos- is a foundation created by Colombian pop-star Shakira to help create opportunities for the children of Colombia.

http://www.fundacionpiesdescalzos.com/joomla/

Global Campaign for education- is a world wide movement to bring awareness and education for over 72 million children around the world.

http://www.campaignforeducation.org/

CEPROD- this is an organization in my native country of Honduras that works with the Federacion Espanola, to build schools in remote areas of the country. I’ve had the opportunity to be at some of these center and seen the work CEPROD is doing first hand. My aunt actually runs this organization and several of my family memebers work there. So this one is near and dear to my heart, and one of the reasons I am so passionate about education, as I grew up going to the many projects CEPROD was involved in.

Can you read this? a billion people can’t March 29, 2010

 

According to a 1999 State of the World Children’s Report released by UNICEF almost an estimate billion people around the world are not able to read in 21^st century or write their name.

This isn’t hard to believe, in fact I actually thought this number would be higher, considering that about 80 percent of the world’s population is living in poverty.

And although several organizations around the world are trying to do something about this, why aren’t the local governments doing more?

The future of their country depends on it’s people’s education. If people can’t read or write, they can’t vote…that is a thought maybe that is why corrupt politicians aren’t doing anything about it. They like to be able to manipulate the people living in rural areas.

after all that is why they go for the support of the poor almost 80% of the time when they are trying to pass a legislation.

Someone needs to put an end to this.

Education is crucial to a countries prosperity, it should be a top proirty for politicans along with healthcare. It shouldn’t be pushed to the side. I find that the most prosperous and independent countries are those that have a good education system(not one that is perfect, in fact with several flaws) but are countries where public education is accesible to all.

Education For All March 25, 2010

In 2008 representatives for Campana Global Educativa( Global Campaign for Education), meet with U.S. congress  to ask  to endorse to endorse bipartisan legislation that would help pay for education for the 72 million children worldwide that are not receiving primary education. The legislation asked that aid given to these countries to be raised to $3 billion from $465 million.

In an interview with CNN Espanol, Shakira, a Colombian and world known singer/philanthropist said that $ 3 million dollars was the amount needed to give an education to the estimated 72 million children in Latin America that did not currently receive primary education by 2012.

Here is the link to that video, and following is one of the singer speaking to CNN (in English)

shakira speaking of the Global Campaign for Education in spanish.

This is Shakira also speaking of the same cause in English.

The legislation, Education for All Act was introduced in 2007 by then senators  Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) as well as Reps. Nita Lowry (D-N.Y.) and Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.).

to learn more  on this act visit http://www.campaignforeducationusa.org/efa2007summary

According to govtrack.us the bill was never became a law.

despite this many advances have been made since 2008.

According to a April 2009 news release on one.org, Rep. Nita Lowry  said that U.S. funding for basic education, as well as President Barack Obama’s commitment of a $ 2billioncontribution to a Global Education Fund. http://www.one.org/blog/category/us-legislation/educational-for-all-act/

GCE and the One campaign havent given up on this bill.

Forgotten Democracy February 16, 2010

“It is essential that urgent steps be taken to improve the protection of civilians, which, while it is the first priority of MONUC is first and foremost the primary responsibility of the Government of the DR Congo. With the support of the Mission and bilateral partners, the Government must take the measures necessary to transform FAR DC into a protector of the Congolese people.” -Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report to the Security Council,  said on Dec. 4,2009

What is going on:

according to www.genocideintervention.net

At least 900,000 people have been Displaced in North and South Kivu since January 2009

There  have been 7,000 Estimated number of rapes in 2009

1,143 Civilians killed in North and South Kivu since January 2009.

The BBC reported that the number of people killed in a decade of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be half of the accepted toll of 5.4 million

In a book review by Rony Ceustermans of Tertio wrote that “the United Nations recounts three to four million victims. People are dying because of deprivation and violence. Pregnant women are cut open and the fetuses are stabbed with bayonets. Young women are raped, their vaginas filled with pigment and then they are buried alive. Girls become pregnant, are infected with AIDS and are forced to bear the child of the aggressor. Men are tortured and killed. Babies and small children end up in the latrines. Youngsters die in the flames of villages burnt to the ground. Hospitals and schools are demolished with intent. A completely innocent civilian population lives and suffers under a monstrous terror and the world keeps silent. “

For the complete review

THE WORLD KEEPS SILENT?

There is not enough media attention out there for this country who in terror suffers. Why isnt there enough?