GT BASIC EDUCATION REFORM

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The specific objectives of the Basic Education Reform Project include universal coverage for the first three years of school; a focus on gender equity, bilingual education and decentralization of education administration to encourage greater community participation; and geographic focus on those areas most affected by decades of internal conflict before the December, 1996 Peace Accords. The project seeks to raise coverage and equity, the first component, through increased pre-primary and primary school enrollment in the poorest rural areas, emphasizing reaching indigenous groups and girls by (a) expanding the National Community-managed Program for Educational Development; (b) offering afternoon shifts in existing schools; and (c) expanding the "Programa de la Nina." The second component seeks to improve efficiency and quality of rural basic education, resulting in reduced drop-out and repetition rates, and improved student academic achievement, mainly by supporting bilingual and multigrade teaching methodologies. The third component seeks to strengthen the organization and management of the education ministry's normative and policymaking functions at the central level, and support functions at the intermediate and local levels, with community involvement in day-to-day school organization and management.