Education: Guatemala

Education systems vary greatly from country to country, and sometimes from community to community within the same country.

In Guatemala, the school year begins in January. If you are going to request information on fees to send an SNG, it is recommended to do so in October or early November. CI requests that tuition and funds be paid the month before school starts, so they have time to transfer the funds and and the staff has time to contact the family and get everything in place for the child to be enrolled. This is especially important if the child has never attended school before, has been out of school for a year or more, or is starting a new educational chapter (college, vocational, etc.).

Children in Guatemala can begin preschool as early as age four. Primary school begins at age seven, Basico at age thirteen, and Bachillerato Secondaria (Diversificado) runs from age sixteen to eighteen. The Secondaria years can have an academic or techical focus. They involve praticas in which students learn a skill and apprentice in the community. The better Diversificado programs are scarce and, usually, are run out of the private schools. They are very limited in the public system.

Even the free schools require fees for transportation, books, supplies, uniforms, and meals. The better "colegios" also require monthly fees and fees for registration and graduation ceremonies.

Only four in every ten children in Guatemala complete primary school (6th grade), so if your child completes sixth grade, they are still in the minority 40%. One in ten completes lower secondary (9th grade) and only 8.5% go to college.

A sponsor who has helped with the education of nearly two dozen children in Guatemala has this insight to share:

The problem is that a child in a bad public primary school will be unprepared for a better Basico school, even if it is made available. And the quality of all schools vary incredibly. School choice is very important in Guatemala. CI was very helpful in choosing the best school for Mariela. But the choice will be driven by the money available. The total cost of my least expensive Primary school is $200 per year. The better quality Basico school is $800 per year. And the best quality Diversificado school is Canadian operated and costs $2000 per year. That includes $450 for the private school bus.

He also shares the following information about universities in Guatemala:

San Carlos is the only public school and there are advantages to going there. It seems that many of the businesses, such as engineering and medical, are not exactly private. There is a close governmental connection to many large industries in Guatemala. The public university acts as a personnel feeder system. Graduating San Carlos assures easier employment after graduation. But admission to San Carlos is more difficult. Admission is strictly test based. No extra credit for being the correct race, or participating in secondary school activities. Private university admission seems much easier.

The financial difference between private and public is not as great as it is in the U.S. There are dozens of fees in the public school that put it on par with the private schools. All full time students need bus fare and lunches. They all have fees for books, supplies, and uniforms. In essence, you are covering the student's living, as well as the school. You can usually count on the family to contribute nothing. A year of public can cost $3000-$4000. Add $1000 for private school tuition.