Education Basics and Montevideo
Montevideo!
My brain is full and if you geek out like me on the benefits of Public Education; then you would have fascinated by today. Like the U.S., Uruguay is redefining some of their educational priorities after the pandemic. The focus here is on Transformational Learning~ ironically something I have heard Matt mention is the focus in the Kalispell School District. We were gifted today with time from the Director of Education at the Ministry of Education, the director of Fulbright, employees from the US embassy, university board members and the directors of Innovation programming.
They shared these highlights that might interest you. If you want to learn more- check this ANEP link.
Uruguay was the first country in the world to implement the One Laptop Per Child program through the Ceibal Plan, ensuring connectivity and access to content for all children in the country’s public system.
Education is compulsory for 11 years (between the ages of 4 and 15) and it is divided into four levels: Preschool, Primary (six years), Secondary (six years) and University. Uruguay boasts that they have the highest literacy rate of Latin America at 98%.
Much like MT, there are some schools with wonderful exposure to opportunity and there are rural schools still waIting for teachers. And speaking of teachers, i you want to be one in Uruguay, you actually don’t go to the general university, as there are university level schools set up around the country only for those getting a teacher degree.
And - for my students reading this… We saw some students here today and “yes” they were wearing uniforms. Uniforms here are the same at every school~Pants and a white lab coat top. (See picture below). This particular school is held at the soccer stadium (location of the first World Cup EVER) and their playground is a portable fence set up every day on the sidewalk. No swings, slides, playground equipment of any type. ~just soccer balls and chalk, but I’m sure you won’t be surprised that they were as happy as can be running, chasing, and showing off for the “gringos”.
Students~ also note my lunch was a Torta Espanola~ another food that we learned about from your food menus and projects,
A visit to the Uruguayan Presidential Office and spotting HUGE aloe plants were surprises of the day,
All the new information today has left me with even more questions for me- good thing I have 2 more weeks to find the answers.
Pictures of today.. time for sleep~ wish I had energy to write more; but we are up early heading to head out of town to some rural schools.
Education is compulsory for 11 years (between the ages of 4 and 15) and it is divided into four levels: Preschool, Primary (six years), Secondary (six years) and University. Uruguay boasts that they have the highest literacy rate of Latin America at 98%.
Much like MT, there are some schools with wonderful exposure to opportunity and there are rural schools still waIting for teachers. And speaking of teachers, i you want to be one in Uruguay, you actually don’t go to the general university, as there are university level schools set up around the country only for those getting a teacher degree.
And - for my students reading this… We saw some students here today and “yes” they were wearing uniforms. Uniforms here are the same at every school~Pants and a white lab coat top. (See picture below). This particular school is held at the soccer stadium (location of the first World Cup EVER) and their playground is a portable fence set up every day on the sidewalk. No swings, slides, playground equipment of any type. ~just soccer balls and chalk, but I’m sure you won’t be surprised that they were as happy as can be running, chasing, and showing off for the “gringos”.
Students~ also note my lunch was a Torta Espanola~ another food that we learned about from your food menus and projects,
A visit to the Uruguayan Presidential Office and spotting HUGE aloe plants were surprises of the day,
All the new information today has left me with even more questions for me- good thing I have 2 more weeks to find the answers.
Pictures of today.. time for sleep~ wish I had energy to write more; but we are up early heading to head out of town to some rural schools.
More later….
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