Information about education in Honduras
| Data |
Honduras |
Germany |
| GDP (nominal, million US$, 2021): |
28.490 |
4,262,767 |
Societal spending on education
(public, % of GDP): |
5.87% |
9.4% |
Share of expenditure p.a. for tertiary education
(in % of total society spending on education): |
1.08% |
3.1% |
| Knowledge Economy Index (KEI): |
3.21 |
8.87 |
| Knowledge Index (AI): |
3.18 |
8.83 |
| Total number of tertiary institutions: |
21 |
426 |
| Reading (literacy level): |
88.5% |
99.9% |
The Honduran education system has a three-tiered school system:
- Compulsory schooling begins with the two-year pre-school for children aged four to six.
- This is followed by the five-year primary cycle for six to eleven year olds.
- Finally, the six-year secondary school is completed by 13 to 18-year-olds. The curriculum here consists of a three-year general education cycle and a three-year in-depth cycle. An obligatory internship is planned in the last year of secondary education.
Even during the general education cycle, a distinction is made between the Modalidad académica and the Modalidad prevocacional. The first modality prepares for university studies, while the second modality is intended to qualify for later professional training. This division continues in the deepening cycle.
In order to start your studies, you must take an entrance exam after completing secondary school at your chosen university.
There are a total of 21 universities in Honduras, 4 of which are public and 17 private. Higher education policy in Honduras is largely shaped by the Universidad Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH). According to the country’s constitution, it has the exclusive right to determine and develop vocational and higher education. Another institution with educational policy management and decision-making functions in higher education is the University Council. In addition to the rector and six other representatives of the UNAH, another six Honduran universities, three of which are private, are represented by their rectors on this council. The Head of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education is also a member of the Higher Education Council.
Apart from its importance in terms of higher education policy, UNAH is the oldest and, with over 95,000 students, also the largest university in Honduras.
In Honduras, university studies are generally organized in two or theoretically three stages. Completion of a five-year Licenciatura course, which leads to a first academic degree, entitles the holder to take up postgraduate Maestría studies. The Maestría degree, which is usually obtained after two years, is a prerequisite for admission to doctoral studies. In Honduras, however, there are hardly any doctoral opportunities.
Many of the master’s programs offered are part-time; This means that they can be completed in the evening and at the weekend. In the applied sciences, specialization programs (Especialidades profesionales) are often offered in addition to the classic courses of study, which essentially concentrate on practical professional aspects and have no predetermined time frame. As a rule, applicants for such programs must already have obtained the Licenciatura degree.
There are also various postgraduate courses that lead to a certificate or diploma. These are of varying duration and intensity and are summarized under the term Postgrado.
Awareness of the importance of quality assurance is not yet very widespread in Honduran universities. One of the few accredited degree programs in Honduras is UNAH’s Masters in Demography and Development (Maestría en Demographía y Desarrollo).
Research in Honduras takes place only to a very limited extent and exclusively at the national level. Almost without exception, Honduran universities are teaching institutions. There are only a few smaller research institutes.
Sources:
- Eschweiler, M. (o. D.): Honduras: Bildung und Wissenschaft, seen 15.01.2023, at https://www.daad.de/de/laenderinformationen/amerika/honduras/…
- Bildungsausgaben, seen 15.01.2023, at https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/bildung/…
- BIP, KEI & KI, Alphabetisierungsgrad, seen 15.01.2023, at https://en.wikipedia.org