From Christopher Columbus to Evo Morales : indigenous exclusion and inclusion in urban education in El Alto, Bolivia

摘要

This thesis looks into the educational system in Bolivia, with a main focus on the implementation ofintercultural and bilingual education (EIB) in the urban areas. According to the current educationalreform from 1994, Reforma Educativa, the education in the country is supposed to be interculturaland bilingual; however, little progress has been done to achieve this in the urban schools. Thereasons for this are many, and there seemed to be a combination between a vague reform, amisconception of intercultural and bilingual education being meant for rural schools only, lack ofcompetence and commitment from the teachers and resistance from the parents.Consequently, in the migrant city of El Alto, Aymara children do not receive the education they areentitled to. Moreover, they are deprived of their indigenous language, culture and traditions, both inthe school and, for many, in the homes. The result is an already observable language and culturalshift among the migrant population. Another consequence is that the castellanización or forcedassimilation process towards the indigenous groups continues through alienation and exclusion oftheir language, culture, history and knowledge. In addition, the learners seem to be victims of anoppressive, monolingual and monocultural education where they learn to listen and repeat theteachers‘ ―Truth‖, rather than discuss and think critically.However, the table seems to be turning. Bolivia, under the new president Evo Morales, is trying tochallenge the Western hegemony in the country, through a counter-hegemonic educational reformthat reinforces the aims to decolonize the Bolivians and re-dignify the language, culture andknowledge of the country‘s indigenous population. Moreover, Morales appears to be a longanticipated role model for young, urban Aymaras who grow up in alienating, Westernizedsurroundings with adults who distance themselves from their indigenous background. The Evoeffect is both causing conflicts and tension, but also hope and pride among the young Aymarageneration that now challenges 500 years of oppression and silence by speaking up and preparingfor an education for liberation rather than oppression.