U.S. Aid to Education in Paraguay: The Rural Education Development Project

摘要

The impact of an A.I.D. project (1970-76) to improve the availability and efficiency of rural education in Paraguay is assessed. As a result of the project, a much better educational program is available to many more students and is delivered by a system and a staff responsive to change. Although fewer rural primary schools were built than targeted (32 of 120) due to rising costs, they have greatly improved rural students' access to formal education, afforded students more time to help with farmwork, and reduced seasonal dropout and transportation costs. The project also revised primary and secondary school curricula, introduced a textbook production and distribution system, and shifted administrative responsibility from the Ministry of Education (MOE) to two Regional Education Centers. These Centers, which have conveniently been located in rural areas, have provided preservice and inservice teacher training, demonstrated use of the new curricula, helped diffuse reforms in formal education, and have become effectively decentralized units of administration.