Elementary Education.
Elementary education has drastically improved in the 19
Spanish-speaking countries in the Latin America and
Caribbean region with 87.4% of those 15-19 years of age
having completed at least a 6th grade education. The lowest
rates are in Central America: Guatemala, 58.3%; Honduras,
70.6%, Nicaragua, 71.3%. Panama and Costa Rica are the
highest at 95.0% and 92.3% respectively
1.
The rate in the US is 98.0%
2.
Secondary Education.
Secondary education continues to lag behind. An average of
66.2% of 20-24 year olds have completed junior high in Latin
America, compared to an estimated 92% in the US. The lowest
countries are in Central America: Honduras, 28.9%;
Guatemala, 33.2% and Nicaragua, 46.3%. Panama is 70.7%. More
alarming is the low high school graduation rate in Latin
America of 46.8% compared to 86.7% in the US. Some Central
American countries are dismally low: Honduras, 21.4%;
Guatemala, 24.9%; Nicaragua, 33.9% and El Salvador, 36.5%.
Panama is 52.6%.
Not surprisingly, the same Central American countries have
the highest illiteracy rates by far: Guatemala, 17.8%;
Nicaragua, 13.8%; and Honduras, 11.1%. Panama is 3.9%. The
US is 1.1%. High illiteracy and non-competitive education
contribute to chronic poverty in these countries. Other
countries have added technology and English to their
teaching programs, which improves their overall
competitiveness.
Ministerial Education.
Even though Spanish-speaking Latin America/Caribbean
accounts for just 10% of Assemblies of God adherents in the
world, almost half of the Bible schools and students are in
these countries 3.
This emphasis on training has postured this region for
missionary outreach and future growth. The greatest
challenge is to maintain quality and train the more than
6,000 teachers.
1 The State of Education
in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNESCO 2007
2 US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the US, 2012
3 Assemblies of God World Missions, LA/C Regional
Statistics, 2009-2011 |
“Go and make disciples of all
nations… teaching them to obey”
—Matthew 28:19
“Be transformed by the renewing
of your mind.”
—Romans 12:2
“If you are a teacher, teach well.”
—Romans 12:6-7 (NLT)
“Education is the most powerful
weapon which you can use to
change the world.”
—Nelson Mandela |
