Education in Bolivia
Individuals, families and communities benefit from access to quality education through improved learning conditions, curricula & pedagogy and vocational skills.
Through its Healthy Municipalities Programme, Suyana strengthens education in rural areas by fostering inclusive, healthy, and environmentally responsible learning environments, enhancing academic performance, and supporting life skills development such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. Central to this effort is the Mi Linda Escuela strategy, which engages teachers, students, families, and local leaders to promote participatory and value-based learning.
Students also gain practical experience through a youth entrepreneurship component that turns local resources into small-scale ventures with economic and environmental benefits. In coordination with education authorities, schools demonstrating progress are formally recognised as Healthy Educational Institutions.
Key Initiatives
Creating Healthy & Inclusive Schools
Suyana’s work focuses on transforming schools into safe, inclusive, and inspiring spaces where children can learn and grow. Efforts include upgrading school infrastructure for safety and accessibility, as well as improving sanitation facilities with gender-segregated bathrooms. Equal attention is given to providing access to clean drinking water and equipping schools with first-aid kits and emergency response training.
To promote healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness, schools develop green areas, school gardens, and bio-gardens that supply fresh produce for school meals and serve as hands-on learning spaces. Kitchens and dining areas are established to strengthen school nutrition, while waste separation and recycling systems encourage sustainable habits from an early age.
The learning experience is further enriched through open classrooms for interactive teaching, as well as reading corners and play areas that foster creativity and literacy. Sports fields, playgrounds, and calisthenics parks provide opportunities for physical activity and well-being, creating vibrant spaces where students thrive.
What we do in practice:
- Upgrade school infrastructure for safety and accessibility
- Construct or improve sanitation facilities, including gender-segregated bathrooms
- Provide access to clean drinking water and first-aid equipment with emergency training
- Develop green spaces, school gardens, and bio-gardens for fresh food production
- Establish kitchens and dining areas to improve school nutrition
- Introduce waste separation and recycling systems for sustainable habits
- Create reading corners, open classrooms, and play areas to encourage creativity and literacy
- Improve sports fields, playgrounds, and calisthenics parks for physical activity
Enhancing Learning through Materials & Skills Development
The programme strengthens education by combining academic learning with practical skills development. Educational materials are designed and distributed in line with national curricula, ensuring that students benefit from relevant and high-quality resources. Teachers receive continuous professional development to foster innovation and sustain strong teaching standards.
To broaden future opportunities, students participate in workshops on entrepreneurship, business, project development, marketing, and technical skills. Carpentry workshops and other practical areas enable students to apply their learning in tangible ways, fostering cognitive development, creativity, and problem-solving.
Learning achievements are celebrated through integrated school fairs, where students showcase their projects and engage with their communities. Progress is tracked through monitoring tools that assess learning outcomes and programme effectiveness.
What we do in practice:
- Create and distribute educational materials aligned with national curricula
- Provide continuous professional development for teachers
- Offer workshops on entrepreneurship, business, project development, and technical skills
- Equip schools with carpentry areas for hands-on learning and problem-solving
- Organise school fairs to showcase student projects and engage communities
- Use assessment tools to monitor student progress and educational impact
Strengthening Public & Institutional Collaboration
The success of Suyana’s Education Programme relies on strong collaboration with public institutions, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability. Close coordination with education authorities guarantees that initiatives align with national policies and contribute to systemic improvement.
Departmental Education Directorates (DDE) and Educational Districts ensure that all activities align with national education policies and standards. Municipal governments play a key role in improving school infrastructure and supporting sustainability initiatives, while Departmental Labour and Employment Services strengthen the vocational component by helping students acquire practical, marketable skills for future employment.
What we do in practice:
- Coordinate with public institutions to ensure sustainability and long-term impact
- Align activities with national education policies through Regional Education Directorates and Local Education Units
- Partner with municipal governments to support school infrastructure and sustainability initiatives
- Collaborate with Regional Labour and Employment Agencies to enhance vocational training and employability
Join us in transforming the lives of Bolivia’s remote highland communities.
