History of Peruvian Education
Before
the Spanish arrived in Peru, Quechua was the official languages of the Inca Empire,
though there were a variety of other languages also spoken (Cerrón-Palomino,
1989; Mannheim, 1991; Torero, 1983). Colonization replaces Quechua with Spanish
as the official language and since Spanish is a written language and Quechua is
not, it represented the imposition of writing as a source of political power
and domination that is still alive today (Mejía, 2005). The Catholic Church
took responsibility for education in the Spanish colonies, which meant that
Spanish became the languages of instruction and the curriculum mainly consisted
of Catholic doctrine. As Kelly and Altbach explain, “schools that emerge in colonies
reflect the power and the educational needs of the colonizers; [under these
systems] missionary groups often had substantial control over educational
policy. For them, religious motivations were a key element in establishing schools
In general, education in Peru has followed a European, heretical and age specific system, like that of other colonized nations. As a former Spanish colony, Peru has a population comprised of a mixture of different ethnicities, languages, and cultures; but the education system as a whole has been dominated by Spanish as the medium of instruction (Wolfgang & López , 2000, p. 26)hools” (Altbach & Kelly, 1978, p. 2).
In general, education in Peru has followed a European, heretical and age specific system, like that of other colonized nations. As a former Spanish colony, Peru has a population comprised of a mixture of different ethnicities, languages, and cultures; but the education system as a whole has been dominated by Spanish as the medium of instruction (Wolfgang & López , 2000, p. 26)hools” (Altbach & Kelly, 1978, p. 2).
Cultural and Philosophical roots
The mural shows the killing of Tupac Amaru II in a brutal method called "quartering". Tupac started a massive uprising against the Spanish in 1780. It was not successful, and he was captured alive during the struggle.
Tupac Amaru II became a legend all over Peru, and has influenced millions of people. Even in modern days, he continues to be an inspiration for equal rights movements.
Education Reform based on Language first came out of General Velasco's 'Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces (1968-1975), it emerged in reaction to social unrest and the rise of peasant and guerrilla movements in the highlands in the 1950's and 60's. With education reform they wanted to “create an education system that: satisfied the necessities of the entire nation; that will reach the great masses of [indigenous] peasants, always exploited and always deliberately kept in ignorance; that will create a new consciousness among all Peruvians of the basic problems of our country; that will contribute to forging a new type of man with in a new social morality” (Wolfgang & López , 2000). This movement led to the bilingual intercultural education in place today, which is moving away from the transitional bilingual education that promote assimilation. Instead the bilingual education promotes; the maintenance of indigenous languages alongside the teaching of a second language (Spanish) plus the acceptance and respect of cultural difference (Nieroda, 2005). It is now believed that teaching children in and about their native language will raise self-esteem, allow them defend themselves from discrimination and abuse as well as be able to chart their own course through history with in the dominant society.