Institute of Historical Research

Towards a More Educated Citizenry? Educational Policies and Outcomes in Peru, 1870 - 1960

Leticia Arroyo Abad (Middlebury College)

In the early 20th century, the Peruvian government sought to "liberate people from ignorance" by supporting the expansion of the primary education system (Paulston 1971, 45). Despite the loud opposition by the Church, the government introduced free and compulsory education supported by the federal government. However, the nationwide efforts and increased education budget yielded modest results. Compared to other Latin American countries, Peru trailed far behind the forerunners in the region, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. The existing literature claims that the educational system in Peru did not promote social mobility, perpetuating the divide between indigenous and non-indigenous groups. The Peruvian educational policies have been shaped by the clash of and the tension between the indigenous and non-indigenous. This divide further extends to the political arena, as it was not until 1980 that the literacy requirement for voting was lifted. As in many countries in Latin America, inequality in Peru manifests in geographical and ethnic differences in education. In historical perspective, many claim that Peruvian education was used to perpetuate social divisions and failed to achieve social integration. By looking at district-based educational indicators, this paper analyzes the articulation and application of the national educational policies and their disparate effects in the different regions in Peru. This analysis looks at the intersectionality of educational achievement, ethnicity, and other district characteristics to better understand the determinants of educational outcomes. I analyze the educational policies adopted in Peru from 1870 to 1960 and their differential results throughout the country. In particular, I am interested in unveiling the continuities and discontinuities of educational outcomes based on geographical and ethnic differences.

Latin American History