Paraguayan President: Public Schools Offer Better Service, Boost Enrollment

President Santiago Peña has reiterated his administration's belief that Paraguay's public school system offers a superior service to private alternatives, citing improvements in meals, infrastructure, and school supplies. This stance, previously met with criticism earlier this year, is now being presented as a key factor in increased student enrollment.

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many parents are seeing that the public school system today is offering a better service, the food, the infrastructure, and the school supplies that we are improving year after year.

"We see an increase in enrollment because many parents are seeing that the public school system today is offering a better service, the food, the infrastructure, and the school supplies that we are improving year after year," Peña stated during a visit to Silvio Pettirossi school in Luque. He emphasized the government's commitment to further enhancing these offerings, believing that public education is a powerful tool for social equality. "If everyone has the same opportunities, we will truly generate a society that values the effort and sacrifice of all people."

The president's remarks coincided with Paraguay's National School Feeding Day and the anniversary of the "Hambre Cero" (Zero Hunger) program. Launched on August 5, 2024, the program initially provided meals in 2,600 schools across 90 districts. It has since expanded to 263 districts, benefiting over a million students. Peña highlighted "reliable numbers" demonstrating increased enrollment and reduced dropout rates in public schools, linking these improvements to the program's success.

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If everyone has the same opportunities, we will truly generate a society that values the effort and sacrifice of all people.

Beyond immediate educational benefits, Peña emphasized the long-term public health implications of improved school nutrition. He noted that hypertension and diabetes, major health issues in adulthood, are often linked to diet. "So this will have a future impact," he said, referring to the positive externalities of public policy. "Economists often talk about positive externalities with public policy, which in reality are achieving several objectives: school retention and learning."

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So this will have a future impact. Economists often talk about positive externalities with public policy, which in reality are achieving several objectives: school retention and learning.