In the upcoming 2024 budget, early childhood education takes top priority, signaling a significant investment in the nation’s educational sector. The national spending plan will enter the agenda of the Legislative Assembly’s plenary session tomorrow, allowing the finance committee to commence its comprehensive study.
The projected public investment in the General State Budget for 2024 stands at a substantial $1,790.5 million. This budget places a considerable emphasis on the overall education system and, more specifically, on the protection and holistic care of early childhood, childhood, and adolescence, as per figures presented by the Ministry of Finance.
As part of the flagship public investment projects, President Nayib Bukele’s government is allocating $245 million for early childhood programs, «Crecer y Aprender Juntos» and «Nacer, Aprender y Crecer.» These initiatives will be executed collaboratively by the Ministries of Education and Health.
The First Lady of the Republic, Gabriela de Bukele, has been at the forefront of all efforts related to early childhood, with the support of public institutions. The goal is to address the historical deficits left by the ARENA and FMLN parties, which governed for three decades.
Last week, as part of her commitment to early childhood development, the First Lady hosted Afshan Khan, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Global Movement for Nutrition, at the Presidential Palace. During this meeting, Khan praised the government’s and First Lady’s dedication to early childhood and emphasized that El Salvador is among the few countries investing significantly in this field. She stated, «The First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s program is one of the best child development programs I have ever seen.»
As part of the strategic focus, the state budget for the next year allocates $140 million for the «Mi Nueva Escuela» educational reform. Additionally, $16 million has been set aside for improving educational environments, and $75 million will support the «Creciendo Saludables Juntos» program, aimed at the comprehensive development of early childhood.
The «Mi Nueva Escuela» educational reform, announced by the President in September 2022, is a crucial part of the government’s strategy to transform the public education system, which was neglected by previous administrations. Key components of this reform include curriculum changes, updated textbooks, the integration of technology, construction and reconstruction of educational spaces, and a focus on nutrition and health.
Renowned sociologist and educator Mauricio Rodríguez views the Ministry of Finance’s proposed state budget as «balanced,» with «strategic investment lines» addressing the needs of various social sectors, including public education.
«In the field of education, there is a strong component related to what we know as early childhood,» noted the analyst. He also highlighted that alongside this investment component, the government has already implemented the «Nacer con Cariño» and «Crecer Juntos» laws, both of which were proposed by the Executive branch and approved by the Legislative Assembly.
«It makes sense for the general state budget to lean more towards these areas to lay the foundation for a country with a different level of preparedness. Previous administrations tended to focus on intermediate levels [of the education system] while neglecting the base [early childhood],» stated the educator.