Vice-Ministry for Alternative Education planned in Guatemala

On April 23 and 24, 2018, the DVV International Office Mexico, in cooperation with the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, conducted an international meeting for alternative and non formal education in Guatemala. Among other things, the creation of a Vice-Ministry for Alternative Education in Guatemala was announced.

The meeting was held at the request of the Guatemalan Minister of Education, Lic. Oscar Hugo López Rivas, who wanted to learn more about the experiences of other countries and especially about the work of DVV International in Central and South America. The Vice-Minister for Alternative Education from Bolivia and experts from Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, among others, attended the meeting. DVV International colleagues from Peru, Mexico and Germany were also present.

All employees of the Guatemalan Ministry of Education who are directly or indirectly involved in youth and adult education were invited to the meeting. From each of the 26 departments in the country, three representatives took part, either from the Directorate of Alternative and Non-school Education (DIGEEX) and/or from the National Council for Literacy (CONALFA).

Adult education system in Bolivia as a model

The example of the adult education system in Bolivia, which DVV International helped to build over many years, aroused great interest among the Guatemalan participants. The creation of a separate Vice-Ministry for Alternative Education in Bolivia and the better financing of this sector associated with it (6% of the education budget) are unique in South and Central America. In Guatemala, the department for formal education currently receives 99% of the education budget and the non-school department (DIGEEX and CONALFA combined) only 1%.

At the conclusion of the two-day meeting, the Minister of Education officially announced the creation of a Vice-Ministry for Alternative Education in Guatemala by the end of 2018, in which DIGEEX and CONALFA will be merged. The President of Guatemala supports this initiative.

At a joint working meeting with the Minister of Education and the representatives of DVV International, concrete steps were agreed upon to prepare a cooperation agreement by the end of the year. An initial meeting with the Director of DIGEEX took place after the meeting.