[lcikra00]

Hi,

I was wondering what school costs for a child in Guatemala. I am considering paying for my foster mother's grandchildren to go to school K-12. If they even have such a thing, I don't know. I know that one of her grandchildren is 7 and goes to school, but his mother works just to send him to school. I think I recall someone saying it was VERY VERY inexpensive (by our standards) but that so few could afford it in Guatemala. I would appreciate ANY information on this such as, Do you pay monthly or yearly? Do they need uniforms or school clothes? Do they need their own individual supplies each year or are they supplied? Anything elsse you can think of?????? I want to know the long term costs before I make a final decision. Thanks!!!!

[mommytoEli]

i think i just saw ar article on guatadopt that said it will be free starting in 2009

[GuatMommy2Be]

Originally Posted by mommytoEli

i think i just saw ar article on guatadopt that said it will be free starting in 2009

Wow! That is great news

[JanCA]

I had heard this myself and asked the woman who runs a Guatemalan charity about it. She said, "If they did do away with the registration fee - it really does not make school free, the parents just do not have to pay the registration fee but the children will still need their school supplies, uniforms, tennis shoes, school shoes, backpack etc. Not having to pay the registration fee will make it easier to enroll the children but it won't make it any easier to keep them in school. Without their school supplies a child really can't participate fully in the classes."

[dspakowsky]

In the city a child abour 12+ costs about $400 a year... that is for all school expense, uniforms, fees, etc. It mostly gets paid when school starts (in Janaury). I have been given this information 2nd hand though...

[angel_bayou]

I also seen the article about schooling being free in 2009. I did hear awhile back that the inscription fee was hard to pay for most families and then the supplies were another issue!
I sponsored a child through an organization for a while and this year I will do it directly and let me say I will be saving a ton of money like this!! I also trust this person to do it directly so you may want to search out your options!

[beverlyanderic]

i read an article about fees being covered, too; however, nothing is free- they're getting the money from somewhere- taxes, etc. just like a country that has "free" healthcare- it isn't free when sales tax can be over 20%+.

[MamaS]

I had been supporting a boy in Guatemala and paid $30 a month, which covered school fees, uniforms, supplies, and annual health exam. This was through Christian Children's Fund. However, they withdrew from Guatemala due to problems with handling of funds, so I now have a foster son in Costa Rica.