Education in Peru has improved throughout the past years, with the average length of education rising to seven years and with marked increases in enrollment of secondary education in both urban and rural areas. However, many issues remain which continue to compromise the quality and access to education in Peru. While most political leaders acknowledge the importance of addressing educational concerns, quick governmental turnover usually results in educational reform having a limited scope. There is a clear split between private schools and a deficient public system. Teachers are severely under paid, and there is especially high teacher absenteeism in rural areas. Bilingual education programs are lacking, resulting in lower attendance among indigenous children who do not speak Spanish. Similarly, children with disabilities receive little to no alternative education. Finally, literacy programs lay dormant due to lack of funding.

Click here to view internship/volunteer opportunities in youth and education in Peru

Since Puno is one of the poorest regions in an already poor country, many struggle to have enough money to provide basic necessities for the family and prefer that their children help out by working in the informal sector. Sending children to school presents an insurmountable opportunity cost to these families. Children, unable to pursue education become caught in a poverty trap of low skilled work that may or may not allow them to afford basic necessities in the future.

FSD interns and volunteers work in schools and orphanages for children of all ages and backgrounds, supplying needed support to teachers, parents, and children who’ve been abandoned or who suffer from disabilities. Working with FSD will allow you to bring creativity and expansion to school programs, while providing you a window into the heart of Peruvian communities.

+ Click here to return to the Peru Development Overview Page.

+ To search through a directory of FSD's youth and education organizations, see the Organization Database.

+ To review recent projects implemented by volunteers and interns and funded by FSD, see
Recent Project Examples.