REF# 2021 - 10
The United States supports the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) through the MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) Threshold Program, which seeks to improve access to quality and relevant secondary education to help Guatemalan high school graduates obtain better jobs by developing new curricula in information technology, auto mechanics, and tourism and hospitality.
The MCC Threshold Program funded the design of six new high school technical degree programs. The process included consultations with the private sector to identify labor market needs, curriculum design, the printing of 13,500 books, as well as provided US$270,000 in computer, auto mechanic, and kitchen equipment, delivered in February 2020 to 13 schools piloting these new technical degrees.
Today, U.S. Ambassador William Popp attended a donation ceremony, along with Minister of Education Claudia Ruiz, Minister of Finance Álvaro González, and Minister of Economy Antonio Malouf. Ambassador Popp highlighted the work of the MCC to support MINEDUC in improving education, and said, “Youth are fundamental to the development of communities and to build a more prosperous country.” The United States and Guatemala are working together to improve the quality of secondary education by guaranteeing that qualified teachers are hired to best fit the subjects they will teach.
This type of cooperation between both countries helps boost Guatemalan prosperity and offers long-term solutions to address the root causes of irregular migration.
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