June 4, 2008

The International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC Spanish acronym) presented on Tuesday 3, in Colombia, the first Higher Education Map in Latina America and the Caribbean (MESALC Spanish acronym).

The International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC, Spanish acronym) presented on May 3, in Colombia, the first Higher Education Map in Latin America and the Caribbean (MESALC Spanish acronym).

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is among the 33 countries with the highest rate regarding undergraduate and graduate higher education inclusion.

Ana Lúcia Gazzola, Director of the IESALC, explained the MESALC statistics during a press conference before the beginning of the Regional Conference of Higher Education (CRES Spanish acronym) 2008, organized in the Center of Conventions ¨Julio César Turbay Ayala,¨ in Cartagena.

According to the registration of 2005-2006, Venezuela holds the fourth place with about 1,900.000 undergraduate students after Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

Regarding postgraduate students, Venezuela holds the same place in the list with 68,203 students, exceeded by Mexico, Brazil and Argentina but above Peru and Colombia.

Regarding the coverage rates, Venezuela is above 50 per cent and ¨shows a significant increase thanks to the expansion of the Bolivarian model,¨ said Gazzola.

She also said that Cuba experiences the most important growth of the region thanks to its program Universidad para Todos (University for Everybody).

Likewise, regarding the fight against illiteracy, IESALC director highlighted again the example of Venezuela and Cuba.

¨There are some countries that have decided to eradicate illiteracy: Venezuela is one of them¨.

MESALC, she said, has the most recent data on higher education of the region, produced by consultants of 33 countries of the area.

¨It´s a political tool aimed at knowing ourselves; developing joint actions and projects; facilitating the student´s mobility and certifying diplomas.¨

Concerning the challenges of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean, the UN´s official said ¨we have to increase and widen the inclusion. This does not imply to create more institutions but to apply new instruments allowing the expansion of coverage: distance education, shared programs.¨

Ministry of People´s Power for Higher Education

Source: Ven Global News (MINCI)