The Verbo Christian School in Bluefields is a non-government private school situated on a parcel of land around the corner from The Dump (I haven’t talked about The Dump yet, but those stories will be coming next week). Though the Verbo school is private and charges a tuition, only 112 of the 420 students can actually afford this fee. The other 72% are getting free tuition subsidized by the school because their families lack the income.
In North America, privatized education has an elitist connotation, but here in Bluefields it’s anything but! Majority of the children are from poor families and the school is privately run so it can better meet the needs of these students.
The school was founded 10 years ago by a lady named Ligia who started the school with 2 planks of wood for desks. Today the school consists of two main buildings - one original building made from wood, and a newer 6-year old structure made from brick and concrete. The older wooden building is in desperate need of retrofitting, but is still usable for a few more years.
For 420 kids, and their families, Verbo Christian School is providing an invaluable service to the community, and to the country. Seeing all those faces one Wednesday morning gave me immeasurable hope for the future of Nicaragua.
Verbo Christian School by the numbers:
- 420 students, elementary level to grade 12
- 112 students pay for tuition, rest attend for free
- 18 teachers
- $68,000 USD operating budget, 50% subsidized by Samaritan’s Purse
- $250 / year for tuition. Includes 2 uniforms and books
- 40 students graduating this year (2007)
- 25% approximately go on to university
Technorati Tags: Bluefields, privatized education, Verbo Christian School, Nicaragua
March 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Where do you get your text books how much do they cost? If I wanted to sponsor a student how much would it cost? Where and to who would the money be sent?
Are your text books in Spanish only, or do you have them in English?
Please send me a list of the cost and items needed for for one student for each year of school?
What is the contact information for the Publisher of your school books?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 am
Hi,
I am currently a teacher in rugby in charge of a year group of 250+ students. Today I will do an assembly based on the subject of The verbo school.
I will ask them to do some fund raising for the school.
The reason this is close to my heart is, in 1996 I was a member of the team who built the school.
cheers Neil
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Hi Neil!
Thanks so much for the comment! It’s great to meet someone who was part of the team who built the school.
Please keep me posted on your efforts. The school is facing a financial situation and will need whatever help they can get.
- Jon.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:27 am
I lived and worked in Bluefields in 1971, and have never forgotten the wonderful people I met and worked with at the sawmill, such as William Brown or Cyril Hooker.
I am seeking information on how things are doing in Bluefields, given the massive destruction of the hurricane years ago. Is the Moravian church still intact? Is the Hotel Del Cuerto still there? Is the airport where my friend George Brown worked still operational? Can one still fly to Bluefields from Managua almost daily? I would very much like to visit Bluefields, if there is a modest hotel in operation. Thank you for any information you could provide.
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