The Jehovah Jireh Project: Pastors’ Scholarship Program

November 1, 2006

Public education in Honduras is ‘free’ through university – that is, the instruction itself is free because the teachers are paid by the government. However, families are responsible to provide uniforms, school shoes, transportation and school supplies, including books and workbooks. This is often a hardship for poor families, including the pastors we work with in the shantytowns ringing the city.

Buying bulk school supplies

The quality of instruction in the public schools is high, but they are subject to a lot of strikes, work stoppages and other interruptions which cause loss of instructional time.

After sixth grade, young people have the option of going on to a colegio, the equivalent of junior high and high school. The first three years of colegio are common to all students; afterwards, they must choose a career track which may be two or three years. A bachillerato is two years; a business, information technology or tourism diploma is three years. Three years are required for entry into a university.

Some families prefer private colegios because they are not interrupted by strikes, or even because they think if they are paying then the school has to pass their child.

Of course, those who can afford it want to send their children to bilingual school to improve their social and job prospects. The majority are English bilingual schools, but the Lycée Franco-Hondurien is also an option.

Pastor Rafael with school shoes for Pastor Castejon’s children

The sponsor wanted them to have toys as well

Even in the public colegios, in addition to the same costs mentioned above for primary education, there are significant additional costs associated with graduation. There are a number of fees, and each student must perform social service and pay for the materials – e.g. tree seedlings for a reforestation project. They cannot get their diplomas – necessary for matriculation in the university – unless these fees are paid – from $300 - $350.

The scholarship fund is intended primarily for the children of pastors, although we do have a few other recipients. Pastor Elías asked that his scholarship go to a bright boy in his church, since his son is not academically inclined. We “inherited” two teenage girls from a missionary who concluded his term of service in Honduras.

Three types of assistance may be provided:

Provision of school supplies, uniforms, etc.

Obtaining sponsors for individual students

Full or partial tuition scholarship from our ministry

2005 Scholarship recipients