El Salvador is expanding its national education strategy with the launch of 50,000 scholarships for Salvadoran youth, as President Nayib Bukele positions education as a central pillar of the country’s long-term transformation.
The scholarship program will allow young people to pursue university degrees, technical training, and vocational courses through in-person, hybrid, or online options. The initiative will also expand access to international academic opportunities, building on a network that has grown from 10 to 35 universities participating in the scholarship program.
To ensure the program has long-term financial sustainability, the government has signed a $100 million agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance scholarships beyond individual government budget cycles.
The initiative forms part of a broader education reform designed to support students from early childhood through higher education. According to the government, the strategy includes expanded school connectivity, computers for students, AI tutors, updated curricula and learning materials, teacher training, and an ongoing school renovation program.
Internet connectivity has already reached approximately 70% of schools, with the government targeting nationwide coverage. Authorities are also working with the World Bank and CAF on additional components of the country’s educational transformation.
Bukele has framed the effort as a transition from a national agenda historically dominated by security concerns toward one increasingly focused on education, skills development, and opportunities for young Salvadorans.
The government says the long-term objective is to equip an entire generation with the knowledge and tools needed to contribute to El Salvador’s economic and social development, making education a key component of the country’s next stage of transformation.