Guatemala School Year Begins February 1, 2009
By Kat Vaughan
The Guatemalan Education Minister has delayed the school start date to February 1st, in order to assure that public schools receive their guaranteed supplies before the first day of school. Traditionally, school begins January 15th.
Guatemala was recently awarded IDB loans for $350 million to fight malnutrition and improve health and education. With such proceeds, President Alvaro Colom's administration implemented a program called "My Family Progresses", where families in over 80 municipalities receive $40.00 a month, so that children go to school instead of work.
"Although Guatemala is a middle-income country, almost half of its population is under 15 years of age, and of these, 60 per cent are poor and 40 per cent extremely poor,” said IDB team leader Graciana Rucci. “Intergenerational transmission of poverty is a great concern, particularly in rural areas and among indigenous peoples. Their nutrition, health and education indicators are among the lowest.”
“Conditional cash transfer programs have received positive evaluations in the region based on their capacity to improve social indicators,” added Rucci. “Through this conditional cash transfer program, the Government of Guatemala aims to strengthen its human capital by investing in children and youth.”
Source:
http://www.iadb.org/NEWS/detail.cfm?language=English&id=4760#
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={9340D321-EFA7-4506-8890-AD0416E60A55})&language=EN
The Guatemalan Education Minister has delayed the school start date to February 1st, in order to assure that public schools receive their guaranteed supplies before the first day of school. Traditionally, school begins January 15th.
Guatemala was recently awarded IDB loans for $350 million to fight malnutrition and improve health and education. With such proceeds, President Alvaro Colom's administration implemented a program called "My Family Progresses", where families in over 80 municipalities receive $40.00 a month, so that children go to school instead of work.
"Although Guatemala is a middle-income country, almost half of its population is under 15 years of age, and of these, 60 per cent are poor and 40 per cent extremely poor,” said IDB team leader Graciana Rucci. “Intergenerational transmission of poverty is a great concern, particularly in rural areas and among indigenous peoples. Their nutrition, health and education indicators are among the lowest.”
“Conditional cash transfer programs have received positive evaluations in the region based on their capacity to improve social indicators,” added Rucci. “Through this conditional cash transfer program, the Government of Guatemala aims to strengthen its human capital by investing in children and youth.”
Source:
http://www.iadb.org/NEWS/detail.cfm?language=English&id=4760#
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={9340D321-EFA7-4506-8890-AD0416E60A55})&language=EN
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