Reply #169: We needed this info.! Thanks. I haven't seen any rebuttals, either..... [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Positive information in another article:

VENEZUELA: Education for revolution


Jo Williams

Since its election in 1998, the Venezuelan government led by Hugo Chavez has implemented a range of mass social programs aimed at eradicating widespread poverty, and at reversing the systematic social exclusion of millions of Venezuelans.

Known as “missions”, these programs have included a mass literacy and primary school completion campaign known as Mission Robinson, a drive to expand high school graduation known as Mission Ribas, and the expansion of access to higher education through Mission Sucre.

In the 1999 constitution, adopted by popular vote, education was codified as a basic human right. Before that, access to education was very different for the poor than for the rich and middle classes.

Since the late 1980s, a wave of neoliberalism led to gradual privatisation of Venezuela’s already limited public education system, and added new fees to basic education, driving more poor people out of the system. A November 11 report by Gregory Wilpert, posted on Venezuela Analysis, explains that roughly 17% of Venezuela's children were excluded from the education system by the late 1990s, either because they couldn't afford to attend, or because they lived in an area with no schools. Ten years ago, illiteracy was officially 9%, or roughly 2 million people, primarily in rural and indigenous communities and among poor inner-city families. In reality it is likely to have been much higher. It was almost 60% amongst indigenous people.

The missions have been implemented quickly, and on a huge scale, with a consequently large deployment of resources. They have involved new infrastructure as well as the reform of elitist educational institutions. According to Wilpert, under the Chavez government, the number of children attending schools increased by roughly 1.5 million between 1999 and 2002. Although figures vary, under Chavez at least 3000 schools have been either built or transformed into “Bolivarian schools”, which offer three meals a day, staff dentists and doctors, recreational facilities and free transport to and from the urban slum areas. The Bolivarian schools are free, but access is restricted to those most in need.
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http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/609/609p14.htm