Ambassador Presents Books and School Materials to
Minister of Education
February 15, 2008

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Salvadoran Minister of Education, Darlyn Meza, Ambassador Charles Glazer, Concepcion de maria school principal Irma Palacios, and two students during the symbolic handing over of the books.

On February 15,  U.S. Ambassador Charles L. Glazer presented to Minister of Education Darlyn Xiomara Meza 60,000 books and 1,250 sets of educational materials.  The donation was made possible through the Strengthening Basic Education Program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and donor partners Mr. Ned Lamont, Scholastic, Kraft Foods and the International Book Bank. 

These books and materials, valued at over $1.4 million, will serve to improve the language skills of students in grades 1-3 in over 1,000 Salvadoran schools, in support of the Ministry of Education’s “Plan 2021.”  

The Strengthening Basic Education Program is improving educational opportunities through ongoing training and coaching for teachers with innovative approaches to teaching language, measuring  achievement and encouraging civic responsibility in students.  Moreover, the program works to improve the quality and efficiency of basic education by strengthening the capacity of rural schools to plan and coordinate professional development and evaluate their own progress.  The donated books and materials will support the implementation of new language programs for elementary schools, and the program will be replicated in schools throughout the country.

“This partnership between the government of El Salvador and the government of the United States to improve basic education started more than 20 years ago, during which time the U.S. government has contributed in many ways such as infrastructure, strengthening of education administration, curricula improvement, development of educational materials, training for school principals and teachers, research, and support for education reform,” said Ambassador Glazer.

The symbolic presentation ceremony was held at Centro Escolar Concepción de María, in San Vicente, and was presided over by Minister Meza; Ambassador Glazer; Mayor of San Vicente, Rigoberto Saravia; Governor of San Vicente, Milton Ventura; USAID Mission Director Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta; and the School Principal of Centro Escolar Concepción de María, Irma Palacios.

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