LUCANAMARCA-AYACUCHO, NOVIEMBRE 06.Inauguración de Tambos, infraestructura que cuenta con sala de usos múltiples, computadoras, cocinas mejoradas, servicios de luz, agua, desagüe, internet, entre otros, que están a disposición de las comunidades y organizaciones públicas y privadas que deseen trabajar en el desarrollo de su ciudad.Foto:ANDINA/Difusión
Improving the education system's quality —both State-run and private— and reducing social inequality are Peru's two major challenges, Education Minister Jaime Saavedra affirmed.
The government official regretted prejudice regarding people's roots, birthplace and socioeconomic status, which ultimately impacts education quality.
“This is unacceptable for an upper-middle-income country such as Peru,” he expressed.
Although the Inca nation has a long way to go to improve education, progress has been made in certain areas such as pedagogical meritocracy: promoting teachers based on their knowledge and efforts.
Likewise, a single, whole-day shift (most Peruvian State schools operate two 5-hour shifts) has been implemented at 1,600 schools nationwide, thus improving education quality.
The Education Minister also referred to Beca 18, a social program giving underprivileged youth the opportunity to access scholarships, particularly those living in remote Amazon or Andean areas.
In this respect, Saavedra mentioned education investment proves another major challenge in the public sector. Nowadays, the Peruvian State invests US$1,100 per secondary school student, an 80% increase compared to 6 years ago.
Nevertheless, such figure is still too low when compared to the US$8,000 invested by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member nations, he noted.
Remarks were made on Monday night at the closing of the international group discussion “Education and Development towards 2021,” organized by San Ignacio de Loyola University.
(END) JCB/ASH/DHT/MVB
Published: 10/25/2016