Impact of educational programs and their relationship to socioeconomic development in rural areas in Nicaragua

Abstract

One of the main challenges facing the Nicaraguan education system is to achieve effective links between the different educational subsystems, their programs, and projects for rural communities. Although institutional efforts are noteworthy, gaps remain in the adaptation of policies to the socioeconomic needs of rural areas. This study analyzed the impact of educational programs through their guidelines and their articulation with socioeconomic development strategies in rural areas of Nicaragua. The research was conducted under the interpretive paradigm, in accordance with a qualitative philosophical approach, with a descriptive scope. The population consisted of actors from educational institutions and key documents on the subject. The sampling was non-probabilistic, selecting participants according to the purposes of the study. Content analysis and semi-structured interviews were applied. The main results reflect that Nicaragua promotes coordination between el program Plan Nacional de Lucha contra la Pobreza, y la Estrategia Nacional de la Educación, the Sustainable Development Goals, the legal framework, and rural programs, identifying consistency between educational programs and institutional policies. The education system has advanced, aligning itself with international development goals. The main conclusion shows that education in Nicaragua is part of a structural strategy for socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. This is based on comprehensive educational policies aimed at linking educational training with local production. However, the effectiveness of educational policies continues to be conditioned by structural, institutional, and financial factors that limit their full consolidation in the territories.