Education in Latin America - Research Paper Example

1 here Your here here here Education in Latin America Today, Latin American countries are developing politically and economically. One important fact about these modern developments is that education plays a significant role in this situation. People in Latin American sub-continent have shown a great interest in education right from the 60s when they began to send their children for education in the West; most importantly in the United States, United Kingdom and other Western European countries (Brock and Lawlor 54). After graduating from their universities or colleges abroad, unlike other immigrants in America, for instance, students from Latin America often return home to develop their homelands. They do not necessarily fall into the temptation of a continued stay in the United States (Romero 46). This attitude has helped Latin American’s most intelligent citizens to return and contribute immensely into the developmental processes going on in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and so on. There is no way to discuss education progress in Latin America without mentioning the impact of American Education System. Invariably, most Latin American countries adopt 2 US Educational Model; although, they change some aspects of it in order to target a particular deficiency in their social requirements (Torres 32). For examples, there are studies in Latin America that aim at empowering women economically and politically; there are lessons on cultural awakening and identity; students are thought the significance of sticking to their cultural roots and standing for their national socio-political cause (Torres 27-67). This is what makes Latin America educational curriculum different from that of the United States. However, individual Latin American country has its unique educational policy that makes it stand out among the others. Mexico, for instance, makes education an important part of its national policies. Education, in Mexico, is useful and highly encouraged for people of all ages: from toddlers (2 years old) to the adults (any age above 18 years old). This has been able to create a new kind of educational awareness among Mexicans as they work hard to modernize their societies and offer social values that would enrich the lives of ordinary citizens in the country (Torres 61-63). Education has indeed revolutionalized Mexico in the areas of social, religious, cultural and political rebirth (Sanchez 32-98). Mexico strictly follows its 1917 Constitution, which states that religion should not deter anyone from pursuing his/her educational goals. The purpose of this is to separate religion from education (Sanchez 164-172). 3 Peru also places a great importance on education: it is compulsory for Peruvians from the age of 7 to 16 to have some education. And up to the secondary school stage, the Peruvian Government has made education free since 1946. There are some similarities in the nature of education available in Mexico and Peru in the sense that it aims at developing the country with a great emphasis on the social, economic and political rebirth. According to a World Bank’s study, Peruvian education records quite low number of dropouts in a year; however, the major concern with the country’s educational system is quality. There are fewer standards to measure the quality of the education Peruvians received in their schools (World Bank 73-83). However, it is clear that Peru does not treat the issue of education with levity: education has been incorporated into culture and the general lifestyle of the Peruvians. The only necessary adjustment, according to World Bank’s reports, is that the Peruvian Government should work on improving the quality of its education. Like in Peru, education in Bolivia is free, universal and compulsory. Right from tender ages, children have been taught to show a great deal of respect for education. In order to make every child acquire education, most parts of Bolivia have bilingual education in Spanish and local language—this practice has made the country achieve 95% of primary education for all its citizens. Bolivian education also teaches about cultural, economical and political issues. Students at the rural areas learn about agriculture and farming activities: those in the cities are encouraged to learn trades and economics. 4 The purpose of this well-rounded educational system is to prepare Bolivians for future economic challenges (Pateman and Cramer 76-80). Ecuador also adopts bilingual educational system by which citizens are taught in Spanish and the local language. The purpose of doing this is to make every student achieve great successes in their studies (De Mejia 48-68). In Ecuador, students are made to pass through both formal and informal education. Cultural and socio-economic issues are included in Ecuadorean curriculum to let students be aware of the latest developments around them. Ecuadorean education also emphasizes on empowerment of individual in order to be able to reach a level of self-sustenance. Comparatively, the Colombian Government fashions the education in the country after that of other Latin American nations, offering classes in bilingual system (De Mejia 48). Education is primarily formal and non-formal, but emphasis is laid on cultural, economical and social development. Students are encouraged to identify their cultural uniqueness and stand to defend it. One important aspect of Colombian education is the universal education for citizens up to the middle school age. The middle secondary school is established in the way that it provides opportunities for Colombian students to learn one craft or the other. In this sense, they could be developed mentally and economically so as to help the citizens have some skills they could use to develop themselves and their countries. 5 Considering all the facts described above, it is interesting to notice that Latin American education bears signs of American Education System. The 6-3-3-4 educational system in the United States encourages students in the middle schools to take some vocational or technical courses: the purpose of this is to train them to be self-reliant in a totally demanding world. If anyone could successfully handle his/her economic and social needs, it is possible for such a person to be able to stand on his/her own and help the country to develop (Colin and Hugh 88). But where were the teachers in the Latin American nations trained? Although the first generations of teachers in Latin America during the 60s got their trainings or education from the United States as well as other Western countries (Thomas and Royal Institute of International Affairs 38). As increasing number of Latin American students flock to overseas to study, they also learn some new ideas about how to be involved in social activities like volunteering, community services and other activities that could be aimed at developing their countries. However, going abroad to study has not been an easy thing for most Latin American students because it cost a lot of money to do so. This program has created a huge source of financial exchange between these countries and the US and other Western countries. Although some of these Latin American students receive scholarships from their native countries or foreign countries to make finance their academic programs; however, as Latin 6 American economies develop; some individual parents and guardians are paying hugely to send their children overseas to acquire quality education. The major concern about the quality of education offered in most of these Latin America nations has urged parents to invest hugely in their children by sending them to the United States and other Western Countries to study (Carlos 82). The impacts of education are visible all over Latin American nations: starting from the economic perspective, people in those nations are now aware of the latest development in the world economy. And they could understand what roles or responsibilities to carry out in order to make their countries a competitive one among the group of nations (Hira 184). This knowledge of economic issues helps Latin Americans to strategize and plan for their own financial freedom amid poverty and scarce resources. Education, in the sense, helps Latin Americans to see themselves as integral parts of the global economic community. This realization will encourage them to do their best in seeing that their countries do not only perform well in the region, but also on international scene. Economic power, eventually, gives an individual the ability to understand the dangers of unplanned lifestyles that may lead to debts and unhappiness. Customarily, Latin American education is designed in a way that it would allow the students to learn about economic studies, which is expected to train their minds as they grow up to become leaders of their countries. Undertaking vocational and technical studies also add to this condition of being economically empowered to overcome financial and personal obstacles. 7 Political understanding has also increased among the Latin Americans through the power of education. Most Latin American countries offer basic, universal free education for students from toddlers to young adults. This opportunity gives Latin Americans the chance to be politically aware and understand their fundamental human rights. They know what they should do and not to do so as to obey the law of the land. Education, through reading and writing, has helped them to participate in political processes, which includes but not limited to voting, enfranchisement, avoiding criminal activities, obedience to authority and so on (Vanden and Prevost 46). Now, an average Latin American can understand that his or her country is just a part of the world family. And any Latin American understands that any unrest in his or her country would affect peace and stability in the neighboring Latin American countries as well as the world in general (Vanden and Prevost 88). This is one of the benefits of education. Culturally, Latin American region has been changing lately. The traditional cultures of Latin American countries have been modernized and influenced by Western ideologies in the past centuries. Education has broken the gap between national cultures and made people from different parts of the world to accept and practice different cultures from other parts of the world. This does not mean that the traditional cultures in Latin America are destroyed, but they are polished and modernize to suit the needs of both the literate and illiterate sections of the population. This is against the practice in the past when people refuse to welcome or practice a foreign culture. 8 In conclusion, education has changed many things in the Latin America region. It has influenced the culture of the people in the area as well as improving their economic knowledge and understanding about the world economy in general. Many Latin Americans are aware of their statutory rights and political affiliations. Education has broadened their minds to understand when their rights are being trampled upon. Education has widened their understanding that they could fight for their rights appropriately. They also have been empowered by education to realize that the world is a global village where other countries fit in. Now, many Latin Americans can travel abroad to study because they have been enlightened about the availability of different world cultures and the necessity to live together in peace. These are some of the reasons education has revolutionized the Latin American world. However, many experts still worry about the quality of education Latin American students are receiving at schools. Therefore, there have been calls for a change in the way educational system is being managed so that Latin American can be able to compete successfully with citizens of other countries in the region as well as in the entire world. This is another reason Latin American presidents and families are spending a lot to send their children abroad to acquire better education, which they will use to contribute meaningfully to the success of the Latin American sub-continent. 9 Works Cited Brock, Colin and Lawlor, Hugh. Education in Latin America. New York: Routledge, 1985. Print. De Mejia, Anne-Marie. Bilingual Education in South America. Bristol: Multilingual Matters, 2005. Print. Hira, Anil. Ideas and Economic Policy in Latin America: Regional, National, and Organizational Case Studies. California: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998. Print. Pateman, Robert and Cramer, Marcus. Bolivia. 2nd ed. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2006. Print. Romero, Mary. Made in the U.S.A. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2002. Print. Sanchez, George. Mexico-A Revolution by Education. Vancouver: READ BOOKS, 2008. Print Torres, Carlos. Education and Social Change in Latin America. Melbourne: James Nicholas Publishers, 1995. Print. Thomas, Bulmer and Royal Institute of International Affairs. Britain and Latin America: a Changing Relationship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Print. 10 Vanden, Harry and Prevost, Gary. The Politics of Latin America: the Power Game. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print. World Bank. Toward High-quality Education in Peru: Standards, Accountability, and Capacity Building. Washington, D.C.:World Bank Publications,2007. Print. Read More