Article 3

Education is necessary, but not enforced, from ages seven to fourteen. Many children attend
private or public preschools. All education, including university level, is free in public institutions.
Exclusive private Catholic schools, which only the wealthy can afford, offer religious instruction in
addition to core academic subjects. The government has taken great strides in improving the literacy rate
largely by instituting adult education programs.
Most students complete primary school (nine years). However, attendance at secondary schools
(two years) is lower. Since Hugo Chavezs rule, curriculum has emphasized the socialist concepts of his
government; Hugo Chavez was the president of Venezuela until 2013. Poor attendance rates are
influenced by the low quality of public education. Many parents believe that public schools are unlikely
to prepare their children for university-level education and may encourage their children to enter the
workforce instead to help support the family. Additionally, parents may be unable to afford the necessary
books, transportation, and uniforms for their children. Some computers and other materials are provided
by the government. Educators are paid very little. Parents who can afford to do so enroll their children in
after-school programs and get tutors.
The school year begins in October and runs through July, with exam periods in February and July.
School days start at 7 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Students in public schools tend to have homework two to
three nights a week, while students at private schools are expected to complete assignments daily.
Cheating is widespread among all social classes and is generally accepted.
Secondary school tracks are available in the sciences, humanities, and technical fields. After
secondary school, students may choose from a variety of three-year vocational schools; many students
choose this route, as it allows them to enter the workforce quickly. Some people take an aptitude test to
enter a university. Bachelors degrees generally take four to five years to complete, and popular fields of
study include medicine, economics, accounting, business, law, education, languages, engineering, and
architecture. The most important private universities are the Metropolitan University, the Andrs Bello
Catholic University, and the University of Santa Mara. The Central University of Venezuela and the
Simn Bolvar University are high-quality public institutions. The currency of Venezuela is the
Venezuelan Bolivar, which is worth 0.16 of an American Dollar.