If you think Education is expensive, try the alternative.  Anonymous

Students at an ACECEN affiliate school

The new school year is starting in Nicaragua. The students will be lining up in their crisp new uniforms, eager to learn.  But will they?  The statistics I read in the Nicaragua Dispatch last week indicated “ 94% of recent Nicaraguan high school graduates failed the basic entrance exam for the National University of Engineering (UNI)…. Two students among the herd scored perfect 100s, but most of the others who passed squeaked by with minimal scores close to 60, according to El Nuevo Diario.  On the part of the UNI’s test measuring aptitude for studies in architecture, 29% received passing grades, the university reports.”

Most parents want their children to receive a high quality education since this is seen as a means to end the cycle of poverty. Although public education is free, parents prefer to send their children to private schools so that they receive better education but private education costs money .Parents are willing to sacrifice; often nutrition suffers since a large portion of the family’s earnings will be spent on education.

Christian schools are part of the growing private school movement and there are different levels of education within the Christian schools.  Unlike North America, the quality of education and teachers varies.  Some schools offer high quality education; others offer the best education they can with limited funds. 

Lennin from EduDeo meeting with teachers

ACECEN is an association of Christian schools in Nicaragua.  There are 100 member schools; not all of the Christian schools belong.  The emphasis of ACECEN is to train teachers in a biblical worldview and to assist in pedagogy and classroom instruction.  The belief is that teacher training is basic to good education.  A group of 11 facilitators meet each month to be trained and then go out to the schools in their areas and train the teachers in the schools.

Many of the schools that belong to ACECEN are located in poor and outlying communities.  The parents are those that have very little resources for living, much less for education.  Tuition is non-existent or very low.  Teacher’s wages are the same.  Many teachers hold down two jobs since the Christian schools cannot pay a living wage. 

ACECEN is supported by EduDeo, a Canadian organization that assists Christian schools through teach education and through building or repairing school facilities.  They accept donations for their member schools and a portion of their donations is allocated to ACECEN for teacher training. Check out their website at https://edudeo.com/get-inspired/partners/acecen/.

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Nicaragua Christian Academy offers an international education in English that is accredited both in Nicaragua and in United States.  However, in recent years NCA has opened schools for the middle class Nicaraguans who wish to have a solid education with an emphasis in English.  All the subjects are taught in Spanish but each class receives English classes each day.  There are two Spanish schools under the NCA umbrella, one in Nejapa (Managua) and one in Matagalpa.

Paying for school expenses is a strain on the finances of many families.  To enrol the student, a $200 matriculation fee is required.  This pays for insurance and consumables in the classroom.  Then there is a monthly fee of $77 to $82 per month tuition fee, depending on the grade level of the child.  Add on a $5 monthly technology fee and a monthly transportation fee of $50 (if needed).  Then add on graduation fees for kindergarten ($7/month), 6^th grade ($7/month, and 11^th grade ($20.00/month).  A family could conceivably pay a monthly fee $132 to $157 per student for education.  Then add on the price of school uniforms, PE uniforms, shoes, books, etc.  The cost keeps getting higher.

The average wage of someone who would send their child to Nejapa or Matagalpa would be between $300 and $400 a month. Some families with two incomes can afford it without too much sacrifice but those that have only once income suffer.  I cannot calculate all the options but having one child in school would take from 33% to 52% of a salary. Add the second student and the family can barely afford rice and beans.

NCA has a sponsorship program to assist with the tuition of the students that need help.  Needs assessments, grades, and deportment are factors that contribute to being accepted into the Sponsorship Program.  These are children that truly need financial help. Check them out at http://www.nca.edu.ni/page.php?campus=sponsorship&child=How-to-Sponsor-a-Child. 

For you who know me, this appeal must be a big surprise.  I am a strong supporter of independence, of self-sustainability, of being aware of the difference between relief and development.  I believe that this is development – an investment in the future of Nicaragua.