In February of 1960, the first Episcopal School in Honduras opened its doors to serve the children of Honduras. La Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity) is in La Ceiba, a beautiful port city nestled between the mountains and Honduras’ northern Caribbean coast. It opened as a Kindergarten and 1st grade, adding a grade each year until 1965 when grade six was added. Holy Trinity now stands as one of seven bilingual Episcopal schools in the Diocese of Honduras, serving a total student population of approximately 1,600 students.
It was 1981 to 1986 at Saint John’s Episcopal School in Puerto Cortes where the current bishop, the Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen, as a teacher began his ministry to the people of Honduras. Few would have imagined that this young man teaching Christian education and P.E. would someday become a bishop, yet, sixteen years after his consecration as the first Honduran-born bishop in diocesan history, his commitment to the ministry of the schools is greater than ever.
Through the years, the diocese has maintained its commitment to the formation of Honduran youth through outstanding and affordable schools. The belief that the education of its youth can positively impact an entire nation has been the driving motive for the diocese. The Episcopal Bilingual Schools of Honduras are helping students develop the character, creativity, and problem-solving skills necessary for their future as leaders of Honduras.
As is the case with American Episcopal schools, these schools receive no government funding and must depend entirely on tuition and fundraising. As one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, it was always understood that tuition for these schools must be low enough for families if they were to take advantage of the programs provided by these schools.
For a bit of perspective, Honduras is a country of 43,278 square miles, roughly the same as the state of Virginia (42,275 square miles), with a population of approximately 10 million—half of whom are under the age of twenty-three. The public education system is plagued with a myriad of problems, leaving it drastically inadequate for preparing the youth for substantial opportunities in life. Although education is compulsory through age twelve, it is estimated that over sixty percent of the Honduran workforce has only primary school education, leaving the country with a challenge to provide adequate human capital. Therefore, schools such as the Episcopal schools are essential if Honduras is to flourish.
Over the last two and a half decades, Honduras has faced many difficulties, leaving it with many challenges to overcome. Crises brought on by natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998, a storm that was estimated to have set Honduras back thirty to fifty years in its economic development. Likewise, over this past year while absorbing the catastrophic impact from COVID 19, Honduras was again the target of two back-to-back Category 4+ hurricanes (Eta and Iota) that, according to analysts could cause an increase of 10% in the poverty rate. This is a devastating reality for a country that already has one of the highest poverty rates in the western hemisphere. All this accompanied by high levels of corruption and drug-related crime has left many with a sense of vulnerability and helplessness.
The increased productivity needed to break Honduras’ persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment.
2015 CIA World Fact Book
The conditions in Honduras have tended to create cycles of despair and hopelessness that are difficult to break. Yet, when a person can envision a way out of their dire circumstances, hope can be renewed. High-quality schools are understood to be one of the most important factors for a country to build toward a prosperous and sustainable future. It is through education that individuals are taught to solve problems and innovate for that new future.
We are grateful for the many partnerships that have been created with American Episcopal schools through the years. The ability to expand students’ worldview through partner school relationships is invaluable. We continue to welcome new partnerships as the Episcopal Bilingual Schools of Honduras empower students to positively impact the future of Honduras. These seven schools are providing families with a high-quality faith-based education designed to develop the whole child: body, mind, and spirit. From our perspective, a prerequisite for life and world-changing education; something that Episcopal schools do best.
Stephen Robinson, Ph.D., is Canon for Education for The Episcopal Diocese of Honduras.
Contact Information
stephen@episcopalhn.org
www.episcopalschoolshonduras.org
www.hondurasdevelopmentnetwork.org