This video is just one example of an organization helping the people of Nicaragua. In this case the non-profit Build On is helping to build a school in a rural community in Nicaragua.
Overview
Nicaragua has a 6-3-2 formal education structure. The academic calendar begins in January and ends in December. Children usually begin their primary education at the age of six and this lasts for six years. Secondary school is divided into two levels. The first level consists of grades 7 – 9 and the second consists of grades 10 – 11. In principle, primary, secondary and one year of pre-primary are free and compulsory, but due to fees that parents have to pay this is not always the case. Students sit for the diploma de curso basico at the end of grade 9, and bachillerato at the end of grade 11.
Nicaragua has a total of 1,389,000 students enrolled in primary and secondary education. Of these students, about 924,000 (67%) are enrolled in primary education.
Figure 3 shows the highest level of education reached by youth ages 15-24 in Nicaragua. It is shocking that approximately 11% of youth have no formal education and 26% of youth have an incomplete primary education. This means that in total 37% of 15-24 year olds have not completed primary education in Nicaragua.
In Nicaragua, 18% of children of primary school ages are not in school as shown below. In addition 21% of boys of primary school age are out of school compared to 15% of girls of the same age. The percentage of the youth of secondary school age who are not in school is much higher at 43%. Nearly 39% of female youth of secondary school age are out of school compared to 47% of male youth of the same age.
In Nicaragua, the gross enrollment rate in primary education is 117% for both girls and boys combined. This lowers to 79% in lower secondary, with a student transition rate to secondary school of 110%. In Nicaragua, the primary school net enrollment rate is 92% and the primary completion rate is 80%. These indicators are markers for the progress a country is making towards universal primary education and for Nicaragua these markers suggest that the country has yet to achieve universal primary education. The figure below displays the repetition rate in primary education, showing the specific grades in which students are more likely to repeat. This data shows that out of the first 5 grades of primary school in Nicaragua, students are more likely to repeat grade 1. The repetition rate in grade 1 is 19.4% ,which is 10.2 points higher than the average repetition rate across primary grades of 9.2%.
In Nicaragua, the literacy rate is 87% among the youth population which is lower than the average youth literacy rate in other lower middle income countries. However, It has made a huge improvement due to the literacy campaign pushed by the Sandinistas. Below is a chart comparing the literacy rate of youth in Nicaragua to that of other lower middle income countries.
Nicaraguan Principles of Education
The Constitution of the republic of Nicaragua establishes that the objectives of education are the whole and integral formation of the Nicaraguan; bestow upon him a critical, scientific, and humanist conscience; develop his personality and the sense of his dignity; and give him the skills in order for him to assume the responsibilities of national interest that the progress of the country depends on. Therefore, education is a fundamental factor for the transformation and the development of the individual and society as a whole. (Article 116)
Education is an undeniable function of the state. It has to plan it, direct it, and organize it. The national system of education function in an integrated manner and in accordance with national plans. Its organization and function are determined by the law. (Article 119)
- The education system is responsible for the formation of persons without discriminating against race, religious creed, political affiliation, sex or social condition, in order to facilitate the participation of everyone in the decisions that affect the economy, politics, administration, and culture of the nation.
- Nicaraguan education is secular and the state will abstain from imparting an official religion to the students in the public education centers.
- Nicaraguan education is responsible for the integral formation of the men, women, and children of the Caribbean Coast in all levels of the education system, also it is responsible for the respect, rescue, and strengthening of the diverse ethnic identities, cultures, and languages.
Administration of the Education System
- The Ministry of Education is responsible for the administration of the subsystem of basic education, basic middle education, and teacher training.
- The Institute of National Technology is responsible for the subsystem of technical and professional formation.
- Higher education is under the responsibility of the National Council of Universities.
- The Regional Autonomous Educative Subsystem is a participatory education model in which it is managed in a decentralized and autonomous manner. It responds to the educational realities and necessities of its multi-ethnic and multilingual population. It coordinates with the ministry of education and the Institute of National Technology
- The programs of the national ministry of education are under the administration of 19 Department Delegations of Education and 130 Municipal Delegations.
Structure of the Education System
Below is the basic structure of the Nicaraguan education system.
In accordance with the General Law of Education of 2006, the initial education constitutes the first level of basic education and attends to boys and girls younger than 6. The group of 0-3 year olds are attended to in a non formal fashion with a lot of community participation and the group of 3-5 year olds (first and second level of preschool) are attended to in both a formal and non formal fashion. The group of age 5-6 is attended to in formal education (unique centers for preschool or classrooms attached to primary schools); in principle the third level of preschool is obligatory.
Primary Education
Obligatory and free primary education constitutes the second level of basic regular education. This education is given in the day-time and lasts for 6-years and focuses on children of age 6-12. It consists of two cycles: the first includes grades 1-4 and the second includes grades 5-6. Primary education is also offered in the following ways: multigrade; night school for those who dropped out of school; accelerated basic education for youth and adults; and special basic education for those with special needs.
The second cycle represents a stage of consolidation and deepening of the understanding and competencies related with the mastery of the language and communication, operations and mathematical thinking, the sciences and the reflexive understanding of history and geographical spaces, and the development of a healthy and emotional life. The graduation of this cycle will count on basic competencies for its development in ones personal life, sense of national duty, and for their career orientation.
Secondary education constitutes the third level of basic regular education, is free when given in state centers and lasts for 5 years. The first three years (or third cycle of basic education) lead to a diploma of basic instruction that allows one to continue his/her studies (technical or academic education) or go into the workforce. The two following years (fourth cycle of basic education prepare one for the bachillerato general(high school diploma) or the bachillerato técnico.
The intercultural Bilingual Educational program has developed in the Atlantic coast since 1984, attending Mistiko, Mayagna, and Creole boys and girls in their native tongue in preschool and primary education. It is an intercultural program because it fosters cohabitation between the diverse cultures in a situation of equilibrium, dialogue, respect, tolerance. It is also a bilingual program because it is run in the native tongue of the educator as much as in the other tongue that will help them in an intercultural level in order to communicate within their own world and outside of it.