Guatemala
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Global Network Learning:

Guatemala currently does not have a very solid IT infrastructure in place.  Most of the information is outdated or information is not available.  A largely uneducated population combined with the numerous indigenous languages creates a very small IT workforce.  The government of Guatemala seriously has to change its policies to implement IT.  By IT financing to improve the current infrastructure. 

The access to international and local computer networks depends on the policies instituted by the governmental telecommunications company GUATEL, Empresa Guatemalteca de Telecomunicaciones. Since 1971 GUATEL holds, by law, the exclusive right to manage all public communications services, including those that did not even exist at the time the law was written (Ibargüen, 1992.)

Schools' Access to ICTs

Universities class rooms have computers for student hands on academia. The lack of IT policies, either preventative or supportive, will be another hurdle for the Guatemala government that is considered a developing nation.  The government should enforce strict guidelines for its IT infrastructure and not abandon its current infrastructure or start fresh with the latest technology available.

Literacy statistics

Total population age 15 and over that can read and write: 63.6%
male: 68.7%
female: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Universities in Guatemala:

These are some of the Universities that offer IT Education in Guatemala:

Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala

  • BA in Computer Science

  • BA in Information Systems

Universidad Francisco Marroquín

  • BA in Computer Science

  • BA in Information Systems

Universidad Mariano Gálvez

  • BA in Computer Science

  • BA in Information Systems

Universidad Rafael Landívar

  • BA in Computer Science

  • BA in Information Systems

Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

  • BA in Computer Science

  • MS in Software Engineering

Enhancing Education with ICTs

Teachers are trained to educate the students at the university level with full access to internet and computer labs equipped with computer equipment to broaden the teachers intellectual ability and for students academia.

Developing the ICTs Workforce

Guatemala MicroNet is working with two basic low-income groups in Guatemala: very low-income "own-account" micro businesses, the majority of which are indigenous Mayans and female, having low literacy and numeracy levels with about 2-3 years of primary education; and more complex micro businesses (light manufacturing, wholesale/retail commerce, & professional/personal services), having higher formal skill levels and between 1-10 employees