Education in Guatemala is free and compulsory for six years. Despite this, the average years of school attended by girls is 4.1 years. Close to 25 per cent of the population is illiterate, with rates of around 30% for women.

Although school enrollment rates and first-grade completion rates have been increasing in recent years, it is still a privilege to have access to education. Over 2 million children do not attend school every year.

Children and families living near the rubbish dump in Guatemala City are particularly excluded from education as they cannot afford the costs of schooling after the first six years. For women and girls, continuing their education is often not an option.