Early Childhood Education in Guatemala

Abstract

This chapter discusses how the institutional attention to early childhood development and education in Guatemala had to go through a process of acknowledgment of the importance of meaningful and lasting learning during the first 7 years of life, in order to include this age period in the Education Reform of 1998. At present, the National Curriculum (2005) addresses this on two levels: the infant and toddler years (0–3 years of age) and preschool years (4–6 years of age), stating the relevant skills and areas of education and development. It is also discussed in this chapter the fact that the law does not determine exactly which institutional entity is responsible for the attention and education at those levels: the Ministry of Education of Guatemala or the Secretary of Social Works of the First Lady, which poses a problem affecting the service provided to children. Several studies in the country have shown that at this point in time the coverage has not been enough and that greater efforts are needed by the public and private sectors to guide parents, teachers, and the community, for children to be active part of teaching and learning process.