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Over 57% of Peru's rural schools need total replacement, report reveals
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Over 57% of Peru's rural schools need total replacement, report reveals

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Over 57% of rural public schools in Peru require complete replacement, according to a report by the Association for Studies for Development (Redes).
  • The northern region of Cajamarca has the highest proportion of rural schools needing full replacement at 63.6%, while rural schools in Loreto and Ucayali have the lowest access to basic services.
  • The report highlights the direct impact of infrastructure on education quality and student motivation, urging investment in teachers and facilities.

A significant portion of Peru's rural schools are in dire need of complete replacement, with over 57% requiring new infrastructure, a report by the Association for Studies for Development (Redes) revealed. The situation is particularly acute in the northern region of Cajamarca, where 63.6% of rural school buildings need to be torn down and rebuilt.

at least 70% of the roofed area presents a very high risk of collapse, so the buildings must be demolished and replaced with new infrastructure.

— RedesThe association stated the condition of rural school buildings.

Redes emphasized that "at least 70% of the roofed area presents a very high risk of collapse" in rural schools, necessitating demolition. This stark reality affects not only the safety of students and teachers but also the learning environment. "A teacher cannot concentrate solely on dictating material, nor keep students motivated if the classroom lacks basic conditions of comfort and safety to work," stated Franco Saito, an economist at Redes.

A teacher cannot concentrate solely on dictating material, nor keep students motivated if the classroom lacks basic conditions of comfort and safety to work.

— Franco SaitoFranco Saito, an economist at Redes, commented on the impact of infrastructure on the daily classroom experience.

The report also exposed significant disparities in access to basic services. While Lima and Callao boast nearly 90% of educational facilities connected to public utilities, rural areas in Loreto and Ucayali have access rates as low as 6% and 8.6%, respectively. This lack of essential services further compounds the challenges faced by educators and students in these regions.

the differences at the national level are also marked.

— RedesThe association noted the disparities in access to basic services across regions.

Saito underscored the international evidence linking teacher quality and productivity to student outcomes, citing an OECD study showing improved grades and years of schooling. "Investing in teachers is, therefore, an efficient way to ensure student development," he concluded, advocating for a holistic approach to improving education that includes both better facilities and well-supported educators.

The international evidence is conclusive.

— Franco SaitoSaito referenced international studies on the impact of teacher quality on student performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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