Top
A New Graduate
Help Needed
Now that we have many students with individual sponsors we need help translating all of the student letters and reports we provide. If your Spanish is strong and you would be interested in helping us with this task please write us at progresa3@gmail.com for more information.
One of our Graduates
Faustina Sis Simón, a graduate of our program, comes from Caserio Chuatacaj 2 outside of San José Poaquil, Chimaltenango. She received our help in 2004 in order to complete the last year of her teaching degree. On July 13th of this year she came to our office in order to repay her debt and to thank us for the financial support that we gave her in her time of need. Since her graduation she has worked at a variety of jobs. She is currently working as a “teacher by contract” (an insecure and poorly paid teaching post) while she waits for a “fixed position” (a better paid and more reliable position).
Newsletters by Season
Fall 2013
Spring 2013
Fall 2011
Spring 2011
Fall 2010
Spring 2010
Fall of 2009
Spring of 2009
Fall of 2008
Spring of 2008
Fall of 2007
Spring of 2007
Fall of 2006
Spring of 2006
The political situation in Guatemala
It has been nine months since the current government was installed. In July the Prensa Libre, one of the major newspapers in the country, did a national survey in order to learn what the citizenry thought about the new administration after six months. One of their major findings was that 69% of those polled thought that the president, Otto Perez Molina, was doing a good job. In comparison only 31.5% of Guatemalans thought that the past president, Alvaro Colom, was doing a good job after six months. The survey indicates that the principle concern of the citizens is security although they recognized that this was an area in which the government has worked hard to improve. When asked what was the least positive area of government, 19% responded that it was the economy. One change will have a direct impact on Progresa students, namely the requirements for a primary school teaching degree. Primary teachers must now complete three years of secondary school education. In the future this degree will require five years, two in secondary school and three at the university level. Current teachers will also need to take two more years of classes in order to maintain their certification. Needless to say there has been a lot of opposition to this change, especially from students and teachers who feel it will make it more difficult for them to earn a teaching degree and thus have a chance to get a better paying job. Although we recognize the difficulties, we think increasing the education requirement for teachers is a good idea because the current teacher preparation is very poor and is not adequate to the needs of primary school students.
Share Article 