Mayan universities challenge traditional learning by expanding Indigenous knowledge

Guatemala is home to six higher education institutions that focus on multi-ethnic learning, aiming to preserve and expand Indigenous knowledge and culture. This initiative, led by figures like Vitalino Similox, rector of Maya Kaqchikel University, is a response to the historical exclusion and racism faced by Indigenous communities in the educational system. The peace accords signed twelve years ago acknowledged the socioeconomic challenges faced by these groups, yet the mechanisms to integrate their voices into legislative policies have been sluggish. Despite limited support from the government, communities have taken the initiative to fund their educational institutions and ensure the transmission of their ancestral knowledge. Similox emphasizes a holistic approach to learning that includes Traditional Medicine, where he incorporates Indigenous methods alongside modern practices. The educational framework aims to challenge the linear models of development prevalent in conventional systems, focusing on social rather than purely economic objectives. While these universities are committed to fostering a more inclusive environment, they struggle with existing societal barriers and must rely on grassroots efforts and community support to sustain their mission.