According to andyeducation, Honduras is a Central American nation that has a population of approximately 9 million people. It is bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua and has a diverse population comprised of indigenous peoples, Mestizos, and Afro-Hondurans. Education in Honduras is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) which ensures that all Honduran children have access to free public education. Primary education in Honduras consists of nine years divided into two cycles of four years each. During this time students are taught subjects such as mathematics, science, language arts, social sciences, physical education, art, music, and technology. At the end of the primary cycle students take an evaluation test to determine if they can move on to secondary school or must repeat the cycle. Secondary school consists of six years divided into three cycles: lower secondary (grades 7-9), upper secondary (grades 10-11), and pre-university (grade 12). During this time students are exposed to more advanced topics such as biology, chemistry, physics, history, economics, English language arts and literature. Upon completion of the pre-university cycle students take an exam which determines their eligibility for university studies. Higher education in Honduras is offered through both public universities such as Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) and private universities such as Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UTEC). These universities offer a variety of programs ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctorates in fields such as business administration; engineering; law; medicine; architecture; social work; psychology; journalism; computer science; and more. Additionally there are a number of technical institutes that offer vocational programs for those wishing to pursue specific careers outside the traditional university system. Overall Honduras’ educational system is quite accessible for its citizens due to its free public primary and secondary schooling. This accessibility combined with increased investment in higher education has resulted in an increase in university enrollment over recent years although there are still some issues such as teacher shortages that need to be addressed. Nonetheless it appears that Honduran citizens have access to quality educational opportunities at all levels which should help them develop their skills and further their career prospects both within Honduras and abroad. See educationvv for Honduras educational systems.
