Under-funded and ill-equipped, the poor state of
Honduras' education system and high cost to send a
child to school has resulted in a shocking
illiteracy rate of 24%. Many schools do not have
electricity or running water, and one teacher for
50 students in grades 1-6 is not unheard of. Desks
often have to accommodate up to three at a time
and supplies are non-existent. Teachers are poorly
paid and receive very little government support.
There's little accountability and their attendance
can be erratic.
For
many families, the cost of schools fees, uniforms,
supplies and transportation is simply too high.
Children are often discouraged from obtaining an
education by their families or can't attend
because they have to work in order to support
them. Many children don't make it past primary
school if they make it to school at all.
Thanks
to the generosity of our donors, Honduran young
people are getting the chance to become
self-sufficient through a combination of academic
study and practical training in fields like
bookkeeping, metal work or carpentry. In addition
to supporting existing education efforts offered
to children in the care of Sociedad, the Friends
Education initiative provides school supplies to
rural primary schools and scholarships that enable
students to pursue vocational training at the high
school level.
|
