Education in Ecuador, Schools and Universities

Education in Ecuador is a subject that has been debated and improved dramatically over the years. The greatest concern, however, is still the education of the children located in rural areas and authorities are working hard to promote a bilingual education system. There are many Spanish schools in Ecuador as this is the most predominant language. However in the interest of development, governments are enthusiastic to popularize the teaching of various languages.

Government started to seriously address the issues of education in Ecuador in the 1980’s. Literacy in the rural areas was at dangerously low numbers and the lack of public schools also posed a problem. Most parents were not able to pay the fees required at private institutions and only a few of the teachers that were available in the rural communities were accredited. The number of scholars that were enrolling into the educational programs was not acceptable and many rural communities are not Spanish speaking.

By looking at these issues and improving the educational system in Ecuador the illiteracy rates of both urban and rural areas have decreased dramatically. There has been an increase in the percentage of students that enroll for secondary and higher level education. Making education in Ecuador more accessible by offering free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 to 14 has made it easier for parents to provide their children with the necessary education.

The recruitment of accredited teachers has raised the standard of education being received and decreased the ratio of pupils to teachers. Important universities in Ecuador include the Central University of Ecuador, which was established in 1594, and cities such as Cuenca, Quito and Guayaquil each have a Catholic university. Quito also has an additional university, The National Polytechnical School, which specializes in engineering and industrial science. Naval and petroleum engineering is taught at the Polytechnical School of the Littoral, which is located in Guayaquil.

Improvements in the Ecuador educational system have improved the literacy
of many locals and given numerous children the opportunity to improve their
lives. The development of educational systems in Ecuador has also assisted the country in training professional and educated employees that contribute significantly to many industries within the country.

back to Culture