Latin America and the Caribbean

Keeping children in school

Primary education is essential for the well-being of all children and adolescents --not to mention the future of their countries. Nevertheless, UNICEF states that nearly half of all students enrolled in primary schools in Latin America and the Caribbean drop out before completing their sixth year of studies.

According to UNICEF (2005), children from the poorest 20% of family households are more than three times likely not to attend primary school than those from the wealthiest 20% of households. In addition, an estimated 77% of children who fail to complete primary school come from the poorest 60% of households. Only seven countries -- Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and Uruguay -- achieve rates of 80% or above for children reaching their fifth grade of studies.

In Bolivia nearly 12,000 children have better schools thanks to an educational infrastructure program designed by World Vision. Over 30,000 children receive school material packages, and about 2,300 children and adults have received training in technical areas and literacy.

As a member of the NGO Global Campaign for Education, World Vision is working to influence the United Nations and governments to successfully guarantee a basic primary education for every child and adolescent in the world by 2015.