ABSTRACT
Latin America has expanded both access to school and the years of schooling by replicating the “more of the same” model. In each neighborhood with more than 15 or 20 school-age children demanding education, classrooms were built and the required number of teachers was hired to operate the traditional primary schools. Latin America has taken large strides toward democratization by: expanding access to education for most children reaching the school age; extending the years of schooling; improving timely admission to school; providing early care to an increasing number of deprived children; and increasing the provision of minimum inputs and eliminating tracks for social levels. The formidable advancements in these areas is detailed in the following paragraphs. Latin American countries are also providing early care to an increasing number of deprived children. The percentage of children under the age of five attending preschool grew from 7.9 percent in 1980 to 15 percent in 1986.
