Education in Guatemala

In May 1982, the Guatemalan government first extended formal recognition of the BCOIA as an educational entity and in October 1984 it authorized the Organization to establish a local office in Guatemala and function as an international mission. Dr. MacVean was appointed by the BCOIA Board as its local representative for the mission.

The formal “acta” (Acuerdo Gubernativo #1298-85 and Decreto Ley #136-85) recognizing BCOIA, which was published in the Diario Centro America, the official gazette of the Government. Among the most significant goals were: 1) To create scholarships for university professors in the areas of science and education; 2) to promote an exchange program among private and public order to encourage the creation of exchange programs among private and public institutions; 3) to assign BCOIA personnel to assist national educational institutions at their requests; 3) to obtain courtesy visas extended by the Ministry of Foreign Relations for the visiting educators.

From 1984 until 2002, the BCOIA, working with International School Services, limited its activities to the appointment of Bucks County Fellows to teach or engage in research at the Universidad del Valle and the Universidad de San Carlos.

By the beginning of 2002 BCOIA began to expand its activities in Guatemala. It extended its relationship with UVG by incorporating the United States and other foreign teachers at the American School of Guatemala into it program. In 2004, BCOIA also began providing the same services to the Fundacion Educativo de Guatemala and its school, the Colegio Interamericano de la Montana, which has a substantial staff of foreign teachers. Soon afterward, the Universidad del Valle began requesting teaching staff for its satellite schools in the highlands (UVG-Altiplano) and the south coast (Proesur-Colegio Americano del Sur) as well as scientists and researchers for special programs in the area of health carried out by its Research Institute and the Communicable Disease Center.

From a small beginning of about ten university fellows, the BCOIA professional staff in Guatemala now includes teaching fellows, elementary and high school teachers, school administrators, school librarians, directors of development and public relations, physicians, health educators and scientists. Since the American School of Guatemala, the Colegio Interamericano, and the Colegio Americano del Sur are accredited by US agencies (the New England Association for ASG and CAS and the Southern Association for Interamericano), the relationship with BCOIA has benefited the schools by helping them to meet strict standards related to the number of certified teachers.

In 2003, Dr. MacVean retired and was replaced as local representative by Mrs. Barbara Barillas, who had been on the staff of the American School for many years. As a result of expanding and improving the attention and services provided to the Guatemalan institutions, the Board became more active. The traditional annual fall Board Meeting was considered insufficient for the transaction of all its business.