Why doesn’t the Guatemalan government provide the books?
The Guatemalan government lacks the resources to provide textbooks to most schools in the country. Two thirds of Guatemalans live in poverty, so the tax base is very small compared to the magnitude of the need. It’s important to note that even in the U.S., neither the federal or state governments generally purchase textbooks for schools. Instead, books are usually funded from local taxes or fees paid by parents. The GLP’s textbook program is designed to give local Guatemalan communities both the benefits and the responsibilities of having their own textbook program. The school has direct control over its books, and therefore, can assure that each student is outfitted with appropriate materials each year. Once they receive their initial donation of textbooks, they are responsible for paying book fees and funding future book replacements. We have found that this locally-run model is a much more effective and reliable way to assure the on-going provision of textbooks to local schools.
