Continuing our series on Roatan growth. Today we discuss education on the island.
Founded in 2006, PIER's main purpose is to develop an excellent public school system in order to
- promote the economic development, and
- enhance the quality of life of the Islands citizens'
PIER advocates for excellence in education by encouraging business and community members to work with the parents, students, teachers, administrators and community to Adopt-A-School; to develop volunteer opportunities in local schools such as classroom assistant, tutors, mentors, motivators, ESL tutors and public speakers; and to raise funds for education excellence.
PIER-Partners in Education on Roatan - is a community-wide, non-governmental organization based on the island of Roatan, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras. It operates under the auspices CANATURH Bay Islands, the tourism Chamber of Commerce. Though we are starting our work on Roatan, PIER projects and actions will benefit all of the Bay Islands, including: Roatan, Utila, Guanaja and Cayos Cochinos, all part of Honduras' island territory. -- from website www.roatanschools.org
Honduras lacked an education system until the 1950s. Until today, the Honduras education system was one of the most backward systems in Central America. The average illiteracy rate of developed countries (percentage of population over age of 15 that can not read or write) stands at 2.3%. In Honduras, it is an average of 11.1% (UNESCO 2004) reaching well above 60% in rural areas.
This has a direct negative effect on the dimension of the population living below the poverty line (people living with less than $2 a day), which maintains itself at a rampant 44% in Honduras (UNESCO 2004).
ABOUT CANATURH – BAY ISLANDS
CANATURH – Bay Islands is a branch of the Official Tourism Chamber of Honduras, a nonprofit organization that works towards responsible tourism growth and development. Its members represent all facets of tourism - from hotel and tour operators to developers and service-oriented businesses, all of whom work together to promote investments on the island, maintain and improve the health of the business environment, and create resources (human, legislative and/or physical) for the tourism sector.
It is CANATURH’s belief that the improvement of education will lead to better-prepared professionals to supply the tourism sector and can furthermore have a direct positive impact on the health of the country’s business environment.
ANOTHER GREAT ROATAN SCHOOL ORGANIZATION . .
The “Roatan bilingual school” was the first bilingual school on the island. During the first three years classes were held in a rented building on main street in Coxen hole, with the help of funds raised by parents and donations from local businesses as well as visiting foreigners. Our goal was to build our own school, which was realized in December 1985. www.roatanbilingualschool.org
The school operates solely on tuition fees and sponsorship. Many teachers, parents and community members have contributed to the growth of our school.
| Important events in the life of the Roatan Bilingual School | ||
| 1983 | The school was founded in Coxen hole. An old building was converted into classrooms. | |
| 1985 | The first facility was constructed. Funds came from Local families, businesses, and international organizations. | |
| 1987 | The school expanded to 160 students. Additional classrooms were built. | |
| 1989 | First annual science fair was held. All the schools on Roatan were invited to visit. | |
| 1990 | The school opened a middle school and high school. | |
| 1993 | After considerable fund raising, many donations from local businesses and international friends, construction for a secondary building began. | |
| 1994 | A successful fund raising event “our first annual talent show” took place in may with the participation of students, local artists and musicians. | |
| 1995 | The Roatan bilingual school celebrated its first high school graduation and had grown to over 200 students. | |
| 2003 | With over 280 students, the school has outgrown the facility and we are once more on the fund raising trail. We are in the process of building additional classrooms for pre-school and primary. This is the first step in our vision for a complete pre-school that would include playgrounds, an indoor gymnasium, as well as other facilities to create the best possible start for young minds. | |
SOL INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED IN 2006
- Establishing a community center in Roatan, Honduras.
- Providing scholarships to local schools.
- Conducting music and physical education classes at local schools.
- Conducting free sports clinics to children.
- Supporting existing foundations on Roatan.
- Conducting bilingual education seminars for the Police Department and teachers of Roatan.