Education

Education is the foundation of success for every child, every community and every country. The education system in Nicaragua is in poor shape. Children are only required to attend school until the sixth grade. Most children take 10 years to finish the mandatory first six years, and only 29% of them complete their primary education. Imagine - only 29% of children entering primary school are even eligible to enter secondary school, and only 79% of all children even enroll in school.

Since secondary school is not mandated, we don't have statistics about how many complete their education. Last year in El Tránsito, 5 graduated and 3 went on to enroll at a university. This year, there is no graduating class in El Tránsito because none of the 3 students from the previous year enrolled to complete their final year.

NICA awarded the best student who graduated in December 2006 a full scholarship to Universidad de Valle in Managua. She is doing well, and hopes to complete her education in 2010. Every year when there is a graduating class, NICA will award the top student a scholarship to further their education.

To encourage more students to complete their secondary education, NICA has started a textbook program[LK1] . Each year, NICA donates textbooks to the secondary school in El Tránsito so each student can receive a set of books. These textbooks are exactly what expensive private schools use in Managua. NICA received special permission for the teachers to use these books because they cover more material than what is mandated under the 25-year-old curriculum.

Through the textbook program, El Tránsito is on its way to having the best public education program in rural Nicaragua.

In the future, NICA will branch out to improve the level of education at the 10 primary schools that use El Tránsito's secondary school. This will better prepare students for the upgraded curriculum at the secondary level.

If you are interested in learning more about NICA's education efforts in El Tránsito and surrounding communities, please contact us.