Educational Progress and Teacher Training in Bolivia

There is a general awareness of the need for more education throughout the world.In the United States, as well as other countries of high industrial development, the lack of education is a major cause for the failure of certain groups to attain social and economic equality.In underdeveloped countries the problem is even more apparent.In Bolivia the government has recognized the urgency of arriving at a solution, yet the illiteracy rate is still very high.Some statistics show at the end of 1965 the ministry of education estimated that 66.9% of Bolivia’s total population was illiterate.This problem is of primary interest to the author because she is a native of Bolivia and a foreign language teacher.The author believes that to improve the educational system in Bolivia, there must be in addition to the present method of combating illiteracy, a better method of training teachers for their profession.In this thesis the author has attempted to give the reader an informative presentation of the Bolivian educational system in general and the teacher training program in particular.Some concluding observations.What then can be done to improve education and teacher training in Bolivia?First, Bolivia must improve the social discipline and immediate enforcement of existing laws.Education for example must cease to be regarded as a passport to escape hard work.Financial assistance is basic, but often can be detrimental to progress in underdeveloped countries if not tightly controlled.Bolivia must dedicate itself to improving greater social discipline and character development.Advisor: E. H. Goldenstein