Education in the Galapagos

Today the Galapagos Board of Education visited our group. They are in the process (since 1998) of developing a curriculum for the Galapagos. The REIG, Reform Education in Galapagos, primarily took place as a result of the Galapagos Islands recognized as a world heritage (Patrimonio Humanidad), it is a living laboratory, and the quality of education needs to change as well as the quality of life in the Galapagos.

The Charles Darwin Research Station teaches and designs curriculum reform and offers teachers an opportunity for their students to do science and collect data related to their home.

There are many major corporations working to make this reform in curriculum possible, UNESCO, FCHD (Charles Darwin Foundation), and PNG (National Park of Galapagos).

Some challenges they are experiencing is an influx in immigrants, legal and illegal. All students have a right to a free education and health care in the Galapagos, however these immigrants do not necessarily speak Spanish. The islands are also having a problem with capacity. 90% of the park is protected, however people have moved into the protected areas because of the 3% of land for population is becoming overcrowded. Immigrants are taking jobs that locals do not have the skills to do, and graduating students have not jobs to continue living on the islands.

The Ecuadorian government created a law in 1998 that prohibits illegal immigrants from living on the Galapagos islands (people moving to the Galapagos from Ecuador or any other country) and they are forced to leave. However, we were told that this law has been ignored by the Ecuadorian govt. The Galapagos "government" has given permanent residents an ID, and immigrants must leave within a year of their entering the islands. However, this is not enforced as well.