Brief report on Learning Without School in Nicaragua. Includes legal aspects; accreditation mechanisms; resources and references.

Art. 121¹⁾ of the Constitution of Nicaragua establishes free and compulsory primary education, and only free secondary education.

Art. 105 of the Constitution recognizes education as a public service and as such the State is obliged to provide it without exclusions, to improve and expand it. The same article guarantees the right to establish private services in the area of education.

The Constitution dedicates Title VII to Education and Culture and in it, Art. 118 states that “the State promotes the participation of the family, the community and the people in education, and guarantees the support of the mass media for the same”. While Art. 119 establishes that education is an undeniable function of the State.

Among the principles of Education, Art. 3 of the law recognizes the duty and right of Parents, Communities, Institutions and Organizations and other members of the Civil Society to “actively participate in the planning, management and evaluation of the educational process, within the national, pluricultural and multiethnic reality”. Art. 19²⁾ provides for compulsory and free Basic Education when provided by the State “from the third level of initial education up to the sixth grade of elementary school”.

Art. 109((CHAPTER III The Family: Fathers, Mothers or Guardians

Art.109.- To the Fathers and Mothers or tutors, as first responsible for the education of the children, until the age of majority or until when any modality of emancipation occurs, corresponds to them:

a) The duty and the right to educate them and freely decide the type and form of education they wish for their children, and to make effective the principle of respect for the Rights of Children and Adolescents.

b) The obligation to enroll in the educational institutions that are in accordance with their preferences.

c) To attend and be informed about the academic performance and behavior of their children, and about the progress of the educational institution.

d) To participate in the School for Parents programs. To improve themselves culturally reaching knowledge that will allow them to transform their family, social and community environment.

e) To participate in the educational management through the Parents' Associations, school councils, and other participative instances, and to watch over the adequate realization of the educational activity.

f) To make constructive criticisms and demand a response from the authorities and educational actors.

g) It also corresponds to them to comply with and enjoy the rights established in the Law of Educational Participation, Law of Citizen Participation and the public duties that emanate from laws and treaties in force) recognizes parents as the first responsible for the education of their children, as well as their right and duty to educate them freely and to choose the type and form of education they wish for them, respecting the Rights of Children and Adolescents. However, in paragraph b) of the same Article, the obligation of the parents to enroll their children in the educational institutions that are in accordance with their preferences is established.

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• Homeschooling Nicaragua

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