The Education System in El Salvador

Public education was a top priority more than health treatment for government expenditure and statistics indicated the difference. As of 1999, the public expense on education was likely at 2.5% of GDP. The literacy rate for female is 77% and 82% for males in 2002. In 1995, the ratio for student-teacher at the primary stage was 28 to 1. In 1997, approximately 1,191,000 students enrolled in primary schools, around 152,400 students for secondary schools and almost 9,400 teachers. In 2000, the project under the Basic Education Modernization was started; the government is looking for international financial support for upgrading the quality and exposure of secondary education.

The education system in the country is divided into preschool, primary, secondary and higher education. Preschool is also identified as kindergarten, day care or nursery school. Preschool education is between 2 to 5 years of age. Primary is compulsory education and lasts for 9 years, next is the 3 years of secondary education, which students can achieve the "Bachillerato," counterpart to a high school diploma. The oldest and famous public university in the country is the University of El Salvador, with enrollments average of 30,000. Ciudad Universitaria is the main campus and settled in San Salvador. Other university branches are located in San Vicente, San Miguel and Santa Ana. There are 12 private and 3 public universities that provide higher education in the country.