Mayan Education In Guatemala: A Pedagogical Model And Its Political Context

In order to give an idea of the present situation of education in Mayan communities, the article starts with a survey of published anthropologocal and educational information on the content, values and methods of education in indigenous communities in Guatemala. The second part deals with the formation of a new collective identity in Guatemala, exploring the relationship between the recent debate on Mayan identity, and Mayan education. Finally, attention is given to the relationship between education in indigenous communities and official, formal education, which is itself being called into question. Mayan education in Guatemala is not only a historical tradition which has survived centuries of alien domination, but is also a forceful voice of criticism in the debate about general educational reform.