This report was published in the Economist.com, on August, 20th 2009. This is a summary. The title is above.
The president seeks to improve ailing schools and universities. Education reforms in Ecuador, promoted by President Rafael Correa, have led to protests and tear-gas on the streets. The teachers union and the students federation are furious at proposals to sack bad teachers and universities account better for the $2.3 billion the government spends on them.
Ecuador`s schools are poor even by South America`s generally low standards. Although almost all of its children enroll in primary education, fewer than two-thirds make it to secondary school. He has, since coming to office in January 2007, spend around $280m repairing school and building new ones. But it is not just about spending more money. Mr. Correa wants to supervise more closely how the education budget is spent, and to improve the quality and consistency of teaching.
Early in his first term, applications for teaching jobs were set a voluntary test of reading proficiency and logic. Just 4% of those taking the logic test passed it. The government is now making tests compulsory.Those who flunk them will be offered a year`s training. Those who fail a second time face the sack. The reforms seem highly popular except, among the teachers. A teacher in quito complain that coercion is the wrong way to go about reforming. Others grumble at their meagre pay.The government is promising pay rises but, it intend to link them to performance.
Ecuador`s universities are also having to shape-up. Low-quality ones will be shut, while state-funded ones will have to account publicy for the $490m a year they receive.
