Education

Purpose: To use basic education to evangelize and further disciple children in the Christian faith.

The education systems of Central America generally leave a great deal to desire, especially in the rural areas. Schools are poorly equipped, teachers are poorly trained, and children do not have text books. Parents quite often are anxious to have their children attend the best schools available. Therefore, Global Development Services believes it is imperative to elevate the level of Christian schools significantly above that of the public schools.

Likewise, poor rural elementary schools are very agreeable to allowing Christain teaching material to be used if it will enchance their curriculum.  The perfect opportunity to introduce the Gospel.

GDS strives to enhance the quality of education in the following ways.

•  Teacher Training:

A student graduating from a basic teaching curriculum is allowed to teach at the level immediately below his or her degree. In other words, a junior high graduate is allowed to teach elementary school even with little training in education. Generally, teachers are hungry for learning better teaching techniques.

•  Improved Curriculum:

Because of the poor level of teacher training, the standard curriculum is seldom improved.  Especially needed is a Spanich cuuriculm for young Mayan children as they enter school.

•  Books and Materials for Each Student:

Students are generally taught by lecture without the benefit of textbooks.

•  Libraries for Every School:

Libraries are limited or non existant in most schools.

•  Computer Labs for Every School:

Computers (which we take for granted) with all the benefits of the internet have very limited availability in rural areas.

•  teach english at an early age:

To be bilingual in English provides huge advantages when seeking employment, and young children especially are able to learn a second language very easily.

•  Construction of Schools:

Once the basic school facility is available, the program can generally be run with limited subsidies.

•  Equipment for Schools:

GDS economic projects provide manufacturing of school equipment such as desks and white boards.