Nicaragua

Spanning the breadth of Central America from the Pacific Ocean on the west to the Caribbean on the east, Nicaragua covers 129,494 square kilometers and was home to some 4.8 million people in 2000. Beginning with colonization by Spain in the 1520s, the history of Nicaragua parallels that of many of its neighbors with privilege, including educational access, which was reserved for the Spanish and those who affected Spanish ways. Although independence was gained in 1821, a highly hierarchical social structure remained in effect for the next 150 years. Education during those years followed an elitist Spanish model and was reserved for a very narrow segment of the population.