Guatemala has a very small IT workforce. With a very high illiteracy rate, the basic educational system is in serious need of improvement. Part of this problem is accentuated by the fact that only 60% of the population speaks the national language of Spanish. This means that 40% speak one of more than 22 indigenous languages, with names unrecognizable to most people such as Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca. Most of these are not inter-related and thus provide a challenge to even the most skilled linguist.

Literacy statistics: (1)

total population age 15 and over that can read and write: 63.6%
male: 68.7%
female: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Universities in Guatemala:

There is a handfull of universities in Guatemala.

Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Universidad Francisco Marroquín
Universidad Mariano Gálvez
Universidad Rafael Landívar

Net migration rate:(1)

-1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

No statistics relating to Brain Drain could be found.

 

Land of the farmer:

The majority of the workforce in Guatemala is made up of laborers and farmers. They do not shirk at doing tasks by hand that in most countries would only be done with a machine.
Though hard workers at times, there is a Latin American tendency for things to take a long time to complete. The attitude is summed up with the word “manana” which means “tomorrow” in Spanish. As in, They will learn it manana and the work will be done manana. Therefore there is no urgency felt in any aspect of their lives and the people feel no need to change today.

Folk tale:(2)

An interesting folk tale helps to show the attitude of many Guatemalans: “A god came down to the people of Guatemala and the people of the north the United States (locations were modernized in the telling) with two boxes, one large and one small. He asked the people of Guatemala which box they wanted and they all said the larger. They opened the box to find a head-strap. (A simple piece of fabric worn across the forehead used to carry and balance the bulk of heavy loads carried on the back. It was used by the people of Guatemala for centuries and continues to be used today). The god says “because you were greedy this is your future. You will toil in the fields and use your backs.” The god then gives the smaller box to the people of the north. Inside they find a stick. The god says “With this stick you can write in the dirt and on the walls. With it you will expand your knowledge and you will learn.” (This story was told to me by a farmer in Huehuetenango, Guatemala)