IRI Host International Conference on Education Reforms

September 16, 2004

On September 16, IRI held an international conference in La Paz titled: “Educación para la Democracia en Bolivia: ¿Qué se hizo y qué falta por hacer?” The objective of the seminar was to bring together officials from the Ministry of Education and civil society actors to discuss curricular reforms. The Ministry has just completed elementary level reforms begun in 1994, and will begin reforms to the high-school curriculum this year. A central component of these reforms has been the introduction of the interdisciplinary theme of education for democracy. This event marked the first opportunity for civil society to provide input and feedback to the education reform process.

The conference, co-sponsored by the Asociacion Boliviana de Ciencia Politica (ABCP) and Educadores para la Democracia, brought together over 120 representatives from teachers networks, women’s and indigenous organizations, and civic groups. International experts shared experiences in civic education from throughout the hemisphere. They included Pablo Zuniga, Senior Specialist with the OAS, Oscar Cruz, Program Manager for the Center for Civic Education (CIVICED), and Miriam de Galvez, consultant to the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. National experts, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Electoral Court, and the Public Defender, provided details on Bolivian civic education efforts. A variety of civic groups, such as teacher associations and Aymara and afro-Bolivian movements, also shared their perspectives on education for democracy. Following the presentations, participants were divided into five working groups to determine specific recommendations for the Ministry of Education. Reform priorities included more parent involvement in school decision making processes, improved teacher training and preparation, and higher teacher salaries, long recognized as some of the lowest in the region by the International Labor Organization.

The conference’s contents, including all panel discussions and recommendations, will be presented to the Ministry in an official report. This document will be used in the National Education Conference being planned by the Ministry for December 2004.

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