IASL Window on the World School Library Country Profiles July 2016

URUGUAY, Latin America

Compiled by Elizabeth Greef, April 2015

Population and 3,341,893 (July 2015 est.) literacy levels Literacy rate: 98.5% Male: 98.2%; Female: 98.8% (2015 est.) Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Languages: Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero Source: CIA World Factbook

Overview of The education system in offers preschool education which many children use. Primary education and school school is for six years; middle school for three years followed by another three-year cycle which library situation offers a diversified baccalaureate and technical education. Education is compulsory between the IASL Window on the World School Library Country Profiles July 2016

ages of 6 and 14. There are common, special and rural modes. Source: Educational system [Uruguay], Classbase: Education system in Uruguay

World Bank documents explain the multi-pronged Third Basic Education Quality Improvement Project of 2002, to improve efficiency, equity and quality in education in Uruguayan schools. One objective was to extend the full-time school model from urban to rural areas in terms of infrastructure, rehabilitation and equipping schools adequately including with furniture, learning materials, education technologies and school libraries, teacher professional development and strengthening links between schools and parents. The second prong was to strengthen the whole education system through reforming the training of teachers, implementing specific projects to improve aspects of education, ensuring research and evaluation, and upgrading information management and administration. Source: Uruguay – Third Basic Education Quality Improvement Project

In 2009 the project was extended until the end of 2012 with additional financing going towards the construction and equipping of schools, the “procurement of didactic materials (school equipment, learning materials, and school libraries)” as well as teacher training and project management. This appears to indicate a perception of the school library as a bunch of resources rather than as a dynamic centre managed by a professionally trained librarian. Source: Additional financing for the TBEIP

However, in the 2007 IFLA/FAIFE World Report the sum total of school libraries given is 13. A strong intention to invest in school libraries appears in other documents such as Uruguay: Children’s Rights References in the Universal Periodic Review of 2014: “106. Schools offering a full schoolday. This will involve building classrooms, transforming ordinary schools into full-day schools, outfitting, distributing teaching materials, training teachers in the new educational model and setting up school libraries.”

Links to important Biblioteca Nacional del Uruguay (BIBNA) associations/contacts IASL Window on the World School Library Country Profiles July 2016

Asociación de Bibliotecólogos del Uruguay (Uruguayan Association of Librarians)

Ministerio de Educación y Cultura

IBBY Uruguay

Artica Centro Cultural Online

Particular issues and International disputes, human trafficking, trans-shipment of illicit drugs, water pollution, child needs of the country labour (7%), youth unemployment Source: CIA World Factbook

Famous authors Eduardu Acevedo Díaz, Delmira Agustini, , Carlos Vaz Ferreira, , Marosa di Giorgio, Felisberto Hernández, Julio Herrera y Reissig, Juana de Ibarbourou, Sylvia Lago, Antonio Larreta, Mario Levrero, Jorge Majfud, Jesús Moraes, Juan Carlos Onetti, José Enrique Rodó, Cristina Peri Rossi, Horacio Quiroga Source: & Uruguay - Literature

Links to literature of Books from Uruguay: Children and Youth Literature Catalogue – Download the country International Children’s Digital Library - Uruguay

Links to SL programs Federación Inter Americana de Juristas Cristianos (FIAJC) or advocacy tools News/Reports UNESCO International Bureau of Education – Latin America and the Caribbean links including world data on the and contacts

Uruguay – Third Basic Education Quality Improvement Project (official World Bank report), 2002 IASL Window on the World School Library Country Profiles July 2016

Additional Financing for the Third Basic Education Improvement Project (official World Bank report), 2009

To update or improve this WOW profile, please email the information to Elizabeth Greef: [email protected]