Getting Health Care and Education Back on Track

Submitted by fyl on 19 January, 2007 - 08:42.

An article about free education in Nicaragua appears here as well as many other sources. From the article:

President Daniel Ortega's government on Wednesday promised Nicaraguans free health care and education, a return to Sandinista principles interrupted 25 years ago, AFP News Agency reports.

You can argue the politics of guaranteed education and health care (and people regularly do) but I see another angle. The article goes on to say that the budget is insufficient to deal with the one million children not in school right now. Thinking back to 1980, here is what I see.

The health and literacy campaign of the 1980s brought a lot of international interest and support to Nicaragua. Much of that was volunteer health workers and teachers. The article says that 900 teachers are needed. It seems that if the government promoted this effort, a lot of international aid and volunteer help would return here again.

‹ Special Ed kids? Advice on Nica secondary schools ›
( categories: )

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Health&Education

Submitted by Alra on 19 January, 2007 - 14:25.

A new proposal to reform the "Law of salary regulation to the public administration and state officials" was recently introduced to parlament by FSLN legislator Gustavo Porras, this proposal would result in salary cuts of up to 50% for the higher paid public employees.

The monetary savings resulting from the propossed salary reducing legislation would be used to help fund social projects, i.e. Health and Education.

Al

PTA - thats the way

Submitted by Jinoturistica on 19 January, 2007 - 09:45.

A teacher of English at the local colegio was complaining his school was not allowed to accept private donations or payment for services. I explained the PTA system that funds many scholastic activities in the US and it was, for him, a new concept. He tells me that some parents want to do more but are blocked by the government.

He said he would think about it. If he doesn't, I will post a flyer or three near the school next month and see who shows up at the inaugural meeting. Not that I have the faintest idea of what is needed or how to run a PTA but I feel like a match about to light a candle / firework / dynamite / piece of carrot.

Is anyone else pushing this concept?

Tony

The 1 million

Submitted by FNLM on 19 January, 2007 - 09:08.

I believe that the issue goes beyond $'s when it comes to the 1 million children not in school. I think that if the children signed up for education the government would find a way of accomodating them.

The problem is that many families in Nicaragua are extremely broken and the importance of education has been thrown out the window. In order to fix this problem, Nicaragua needs to go beyond just teachers. There needs to be counselors for children and families as well as more regulations in which demand the education of children.

I suppose that there is some difference to this, when we talk about extremely rural areas to that of more urban or suburban areas of Nicaragua. ....but I have seen and no more children not in school in Managua then other parts of the country.

Education

Submitted by cookshow on 19 January, 2007 - 09:46.

I see lots of international interests in helping the Nicaraguan education system. One case I know of is a group wanting to donate well over $100,000 but is being held up because the group cannot be assured where the $$ will go. Politicians want a hand in it & the group is concerned (& rightfully so) that the $$ may not go to the schools.