Mission Robinson
Encyclopedia
Mission Robinson is one of the Bolivarian Missions
(a series of anti-poverty and social welfare programs) implemented by the current Venezuela
n president Hugo Chávez
. The name "Robinson" was given to the Mission in remembrance of the pseudonym adopted during his exile from Spanish America by Venezuelan philosopher and educator Simón Rodríguez
(1769–1854).
The program uses volunteers to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic to the more than 1.5 million Venezuelan adults who were illiterate prior to Chávez's election to the presidency in 1999. The program is military-civilian in nature, and sends soldiers to, among other places, remote and dangerous locales in order to reach the most undereducated, neglected, and marginalized adult citizens to give them regular schooling and lessons.
On the first anniversary of Mission Robinson's establishment, and to an audience of 50,000 formerly illiterate Venezuelans, Hugo Chávez Frías stated in the Teresa Carreño
theater in Caracas that “it was truly a world record, in a year we have graduated 1,250,000 Venezuelans". On 28 October 2005, Venezuela declared itself a "Territory Free of Illiteracy", having raised the literacy rate to 99% according to initial government statements by graduating 1.4m Venezuelans from the Mission. The standard for a country to be considered free of illiteracy being 95%. http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~border/list_articles/OPT_Nov10_VenezuelaDidIt.html
Previous reports had claimed that the eradication of illiteracy had been UNESCO
-verified. In October 2006, Venezuelan Education Minister Aristóbulo Istúriz
clarified that Venezuela had not received a UNESCO certification because the organisation does not certify literacy programs http://www.vive.gob.ve/inf_art.php?id_not=2723&id_s=6&id_ss=1. "Venezuela is a sovereign nation, Venezuela declares itself Illiteracy-Free Territory," affirmed the minister.http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=20&t=39411
Bolivarian Missions
The Bolivarian Missions are a series of social justice, social welfare, anti-poverty, educational, electoral and military recruiting programs implemented under the administration of the current Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez...
(a series of anti-poverty and social welfare programs) implemented by the current Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n president Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
. The name "Robinson" was given to the Mission in remembrance of the pseudonym adopted during his exile from Spanish America by Venezuelan philosopher and educator Simón Rodríguez
Simón Rodríguez
Simón Rodríguez , known during his exile from Spanish America as Samuel Robinson, was a South American philosopher and educator, notably Simón Bolívar's tutor and mentor....
(1769–1854).
The program uses volunteers to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic to the more than 1.5 million Venezuelan adults who were illiterate prior to Chávez's election to the presidency in 1999. The program is military-civilian in nature, and sends soldiers to, among other places, remote and dangerous locales in order to reach the most undereducated, neglected, and marginalized adult citizens to give them regular schooling and lessons.
On the first anniversary of Mission Robinson's establishment, and to an audience of 50,000 formerly illiterate Venezuelans, Hugo Chávez Frías stated in the Teresa Carreño
Teresa Carreño
María Teresa Carreño García de Sena was a Venezuelan pianist, singer, composer, and conductor.Born into a musical family, she was at first taught by her father, then by Mathias, Louis Moreau Gottschalk and Anton Rubinstein and her talent was recognized at an early age...
theater in Caracas that “it was truly a world record, in a year we have graduated 1,250,000 Venezuelans". On 28 October 2005, Venezuela declared itself a "Territory Free of Illiteracy", having raised the literacy rate to 99% according to initial government statements by graduating 1.4m Venezuelans from the Mission. The standard for a country to be considered free of illiteracy being 95%. http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~border/list_articles/OPT_Nov10_VenezuelaDidIt.html
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
-verified. In October 2006, Venezuelan Education Minister Aristóbulo Istúriz
Aristóbulo Istúriz
Aristóbulo Istúriz is a Venezuelan politician and academic. He was a professor at the Centro de Estudios del Desarrollo of the Universidad Central de Venezuela. He was elected to Parliament several times for Acción Democrática, representing the Federal District , before joining the Radical Cause...
clarified that Venezuela had not received a UNESCO certification because the organisation does not certify literacy programs http://www.vive.gob.ve/inf_art.php?id_not=2723&id_s=6&id_ss=1. "Venezuela is a sovereign nation, Venezuela declares itself Illiteracy-Free Territory," affirmed the minister.http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=20&t=39411
External links
- Misión Robinson — Official government website.