Guatemala opens the first of four early childhood centers to train educators who will reach 40,000 children

Guatemala has opened the first of four regional centers meant to improve early childhood education, UNICEF Guatemala said on 23 October. The Departmental Early Childhood Reference Center in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, was opened by the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), UNICEF and the Municipality of Cobán, which provided the land.

Training the people who teach the youngest

The centers focus on the adults around young children. Each is expected to support more than 500 educators and, through them, reach more than 10,000 children; across the four departments, the initiative could improve learning opportunities for more than 40,000 children.

“This Center represents much more than infrastructure.” — Vincenzo Placco, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Guatemala

Placco described the center as an investment in the people who care for and teach children. Education Minister Anabella Giracca said education begins well before primary school and called the center a step toward a more equitable system.

Only 9% of young children in early education

The gap is large. Only 9% of Guatemalan children under six have access to early childhood education, according to the release.

The other three centers are planned for Chiquimula, Quiché and San Marcos. Together the four centers cost US$661,000 and are part of the Education Innovation and Transformation Priority Programme, which UNICEF manages with funding from the Global Partnership for Education.

No opening dates yet for the others

The release does not say when the remaining three centers will open or how results will be measured. More stories about learning are collected under education.