Education and Learning
In the past several years, there have been improvements in Peruvian education. For example, enrollment rates have increased, and there is an observable trend toward improvement in standardized test scores. However, there is still much to be done in terms of the quality, equality, and relevance of education in Peru.
Therefore, all GRADE studies focus on identifying the existing challenges for the Peruvian educational system in achieving its intended impact on society. In these studies, GRADE researchers place significant emphasis on educational inequality. As such, our researchers have conducted studies on the effects of poverty, living in rural areas, race and ethnicity (with a focus on indigenous peoples and the Afro-Peruvian community), and disability on educational opportunities and success. GRADE researchers have likewise incorporated a gender component into many studies.
Informed by these studies as well as others, GRADE researchers have been directly involved in policy debates in numerous sectors of government, including those of the Ministry of Education and other institutions working on topics in education.
Senior Researchers
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Lorena Alcázar Valdivia
PhD en Economics - Washington University
Lorena has a BA in Economics from the Pacific University in Peru, a Master’s Degree in Political and International Economy from the Kiel Institute of World Economics, and a PhD in Economics from Washington University. She is currently a Senior Researcher at the Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE). Previously, she served as Vice-President […]
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María Balarin Bonazzi
PhD en Educational Policy - University of Bath
María Balarin is a Senior Researcher at the Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE) in Peru. Her research explores the political economy of education reform and educational justice in the Global South, with a particular focus on gender dynamics and socioeconomic exclusion. She has examined how state weakness shapes education reforms, the processes of […]
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Martín Benavides Abanto (on leave)
PhD en Sociology - Pennsylvania State University
Martín Benavides has a PhD in Sociology from Pennsylvania State University where he also attained a Master’s Degree in Education Policy. He has a degree in Sociology and a BA in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and has been a visiting student on issues of social mobility and inequality at Nuffield College […]
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Santiago Cueto Caballero
PhD en Educational Psychology - Indiana University
Santiago Cueto holds a degree in Educational Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a PhD in the same field from Indiana University in the United States. He has been a Visiting Researcher at the University of California at Davis and the University of Oxford. He is currently a Senior Researcher at GRADE, […]
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Gabriela Guerrero Barnechea
PhD en Educational Sciences - KU Leuven
Gabriela Guerrero has a PhD in Educational Sciences from the KU Leuven in Belgium and a Master’s Degree in Development Studies with a major in Public Policy from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She is currently a […]
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Juan León Jara-Almonte
PhD en - Pennsylvania State University
Juan has a PhD in Educational Theory and Policy and Comparative & International Education from Pennsylvania State University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with mention in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Currently, he is a Senior Researcher at GRADE. His research interests are inequality in education, intercultural bilingual education, early […]
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Patricia McLauchlan de Arregui
M.A. en Sociology - Johns Hopkins University
Patricia McLauchlan de Arregui graduated in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She obtained her MA and concluded her doctoral studies in Sociology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She has worked for GRADE as a Senior Researcher since 1985 and was Executive Director of the institution between 1988 and 1998. Her […]
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Vanessa Rojas Arangoitia
PhD en - Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
Vanessa holds a PhD in Sociology from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. She has a degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Her work has focused on the anthropology of education and childhood, addressing issues of educational transitions, child welfare, educational quality and power relations. During 2012, she […]
Associated Researchers
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Carmela Chávez Irigoyen
PhD en - Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Carmela Chávez Irigoyen holds a PhD in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, where she also obtained a Degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences. She has a Master’s Degree in Advanced Studies in Human Rights and a Master’s Degree in Fundamental Rights from the Carlos III University in Madrid. […]
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Néstor Valdivia Vargas
PhD candidate en Sociology - El Colegio de México
Néstor Valdivia is studying for a PhD in Sociology at El Colegio de México and holds a degree in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He is currently an Associate Researcher at GRADE in the fields of poverty and equality, education, the labor market and human development. He has worked on development and […]
Adjunct Researchers
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Antonio Campos Flores
PhD candidate en - University of San Andrés, Argentina
Antonio is a PhD Candidate in Economics from the University of San Andrés in Argentina. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of San Andrés and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. He has been a coordinator of educational policy evaluations at the Ministry of […]
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Liliana Miranda Molina
Master en - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Liliana has a master’s degree in Education Research from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a degree in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). She worked at the Ministry of Education (MINEDU), first as Head of MINEDU’s Quality Measurement Unit and then as Vice-Minister of Pedagogical Management. Currently, Liliana is an Adjunct […]
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María Fernanda Rodríguez García
PhD Candidate en - Cambridge University
María Fernanda is an Adjunct Researcher at GRADE. She holds a Master’s degree in Education, Globalization & International Development from Cambridge University in United Kingdom and a degree in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She is currently a PhD candidate in Education at Cambridge University. Her areas of interest are the critical […]
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Paola Sarmiento Huerta
Master in Arts en - University of British Columbia
Paola holds a MA on Educational Policy from University of British Columbia (UBC) and has a degree in Educational Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She has been part of educational reform processes in Peru such as the Public Teaching Career and the University Reform. In addition, she has been a member of the […]
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Claudia Sugimaru Arakaki
Máster en Educational Sciences - KU Leuven
Claudia holds a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences from KU Leuven in Belgium and a degree in Psychology with a major in Education from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Currently, she is an Adjunct Researcher at GRADE.
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Jessica Tapia Soriano
Master en - Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO)
Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences with an orientation on Education from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Argentina. Currently she is an Adjunct Researcher at GRADE and the Pedagogical Coordinator of the Growing with Multigrade Rural Schools in Peru (CREER) Project.
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Verónica Villarán Bedoya
Master en - Social Sciences with an orientation on Education
Verónica holds a Degree in Social Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a Master’s degree in Social Sciences with an orientation on Education from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Argentina. Between 2011 and 2014 she worked at the Ministry of Education, first as Director of Educational Research and Documentation and […]
Research Assistants
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Aranza Ballesteros
Degree en -
Aranza holds a degree in Sociology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and will support as a research assistant to the project team: ‘AdaptED – Observatory for Educational Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean’, led by Santiago Cueto, principal investigator.
Project Support Staff
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Mónica Lizama Egoavil
Degree en - National Agrarian University
Mónica studied Statistical and Computer Science Engineer at the National University Agrarian La Molina. Currently she is the Data Manager for Young Lives in Peru. Before joining Young Lives, Mónica worked as a statistics assistant at the Peruvian National Institute of Statistics (INEI) and the International Nutrition Institute (IIN).
External Affiliated Researchers
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David Baker
PhD en - Johns Hopkins University
David P. Baker is Professor of Education and Sociology at the Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on the impact of education on individuals and societies, international comparisons of school organization, academic outcomes, and educational policy. His most recent book is The Schooled Society: The Educational Transformation of Global Culture. Palo Alto CA: Stanford University […]
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Jere R. Behrman
Ph.D. en - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professor Behrman is a leading international researcher in empirical microeconomics, with emphasis on developing economies. He is also a Research Associate at Penn’s Population Studies Center. His research interests include empirical microeconomics, labor economics, human resources (early childhood development, education, health, nutrition), project evaluation, economic demography, incentive systems and household behaviors. The unifying dimension of […]
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Marjorie Chinen
PhD en - University of California
Marjorie is a Ph.D. in Education with emphasis on Advanced Quantitative Methods in Social Research Methodology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has over 15 years of experience in project management, technical assistance, research and fieldwork in international development. She has led multiple projects in different areas of education, and designed and […]
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Marta Favara
PhD en - University of Essex
Marta is a Senior Researcher at the Oxford Department of International Development at the University of Oxford where she is leading the quantitative research agenda of Young Lives since 2015. She is also a Research Fellow at the Oxford Martin School Programme on African Governance and an IZA Research Affiliate. Before joining Young Lives, she […]
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Sonia Laszlo
PhD en - University of Toronto
Sonia Laszlo is Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for the Study of International Development. Her main research areas cover many aspects of applied microeconomic analysis in economic development: rural development, access to markets, and the relationship between income, health and education in economic development. In addition to using traditional analytic tools […]
Visiting Researchers
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Claudia Galindo
PhD en - Pennsylvania State University
Claudia holds a Ph.D. in Educational Theory and Policy and Comparative & International Education from Pennsylvania State University, and a post-doctoral degree in Social Organization of Schools from Johns Hopkins University. She is an Associated Professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she teaches in the fields of educational inequalities, inmigration and research methodologies.
Publications
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Transmisión intergeneracional de la educación. Los efectos directos e indirectos de la educación materna en el desarrollo infantil en una región de la selva peruana
2020 Juan Leon, Martín Benavides, Fernando Alarcón, María Grazia Erausquín., Ana Salas
The fact that more educational opportunities have been opened in developing countries has led to a reduction in gender-related educational disparities. Increased levels of schooling for women have potentially important social consequences for boys and girls, in terms of health and well-being. This study explores both the direct and indirect effects of maternal education on […]
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Las aspiraciones de las mujeres rurales de Cajamarca en la educación de sus hijas e hijos
2020 Gabriela Arrunátegui
En este artículo, Gabriela Arrunátegui analiza las aspiraciones de las mujeres de zonas rurales de Cajamarca en la educación de sus hijas e hijos. Para ello, empleó la información cualitativa recogida en el año 2019 por el equipo del proyecto CREER, sobre prácticas pedagógicas y de género en 12 instituciones educativas multigrado de primaria en […]
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Didáctica multigrado: Un modelo integrador de organización de contenidos
2020 Limber Santos
Este artículo de Limber Santos, muy reconocido experto uruguayo en educación rural, comparte reflexiones y brinda algunas claves conceptuales que subyacen a las prescripciones y las prácticas reales de enseñanza en aulas multigrado – aplicables, en verdad, en muchos otros espacios educativos en que la diversidad es una característica saltante quienes aprenden.
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A propósito de las “Orientaciones para la evaluación de competencias de estudiantes de la Educación Básica en el marco de la emergencia sanitaria por la COVID-19”
2020 Jessica Tapia
This article addresses the main components of the “Guidelines for the assessment of competencies of Basic Education students in the framework of the health emergency caused by COVID-19”, highlighting both their positive aspects and the challenges involved in their implementation. Likewise, it provides some recommendations in order to guide the strengthening of capacities that will […]
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Una aproximación a la violencia en escuelas primarias multigrado de zonas rurales de Piura, Cajamarca y Loreto
2020 Gabriela Arrunátegui
En el año 2019, el Proyecto CREER desarrolló un estudio cualitativo sobre las prácticas pedagógicas y de género en 12 instituciones educativas multigrado de primaria, con un máximo de tres docentes, en Piura, Cajamarca y Loreto. El estudio buscó comprender las diversas dinámicas pedagógicas y de género que se llevan a cabo en estas escuelas […]
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The Educational Gender Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean
2008, ,
The paper analyzes the evolution of gender differences in school attendance and attainment in Latin America and the Caribbean, for both adults who left the educational system and children in school. For individuals 21 years old and above the paper uses a cohort analysis of school attainment. The results indicate that the schooling gap has […]
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Evaluation of the World Bank’s assistance to primary education in Peru
2007Martín Benavides, , , Santiago Cueto,
The objective of this report is to evaluate the relevance and effectivennes of World Bank efforts in support of primary education in Peru.
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Returns to private education in Perú
2007,
La provisión privada de servicios educativos ha venido representando una proporción creciente del sistema educativo peruano, especialmente durante las últimas décadas. Mientras que han existido muchas quejas respecto a las diferencias en cuanto a calidad entre las escuelas públicas y privadas, no existe una evaluación completa acerca de los diferentes impactos de estos dos tipos […]
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Returns to Private Education in Peru
2007,
The private provision of educational services has been representing an increasing fraction of the Peruvian schooling system, especially in recent last decades. While there have been many claims about the differences in quality between private and public schools, there is no complete assessment of the different impacts of these two type of providers on the […]
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JournalFood and nutrition bulletin
Benefits of a school breakfast programme among Andean children in Huaraz, Peru
1996, Santiago Cueto,
A randomized, controlled trial measured the short-term impact of the Peruvian school breakfast programme on the diet, school attendance, and cognition of fourth- and fifth-graders.
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JournalJournal of Drug Education
Drug abuse prevention curricula in public and private schools in Indiana
1994, Santiago Cueto,
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JournalScientia et Praxis
La crisis de la universidad peruana
1994Patricia McLauchlan de Arregui, , ,
El desfase entre recursos decrecientes y la explosiva demanda de educación superior es una de las causas principales de la llamada crisis de la universidad peruana.
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JournalRevista de Educación
Lineamientos para un programa de educación en valores en el Perú
1993Santiago Cueto,
No se han encontrado publicaciones de Education and Learning en la categoría Chapter in Book
No se han encontrado publicaciones de Education and Learning en la categoría Policy brief
No se han encontrado publicaciones de Education and Learning en la categoría Book
No se han encontrado publicaciones de Education and Learning en la categoría Mimeo
Projects
News
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Santiago Cueto: “We lack greater progress in equity in the Peruvian educational system”
August 16, 2017 Education and learning
“We lack greater progress in equity in the Peruvian educational system. […] it is key to invest in the first years of life”. Santiago Cueto, Country Coordinator of Young Lives Peru and Research Director at GRADE, shared the findings of his study “Educational trajectories in Peru: from childhood to early adulthood“ in Salgalu TV’s Open Dialogue.
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Hugo Ñopo: Law should have been applied from the beginning
August 14, 2017 Education and learning, State reform and public institutions
“A better education for Peruvians will not be possible without greater tax collection. A bigger budget for the sector relies on it. Citizens must tax and abandon informality” said Hugo Ñopo, senior researcher at GRADE, in Perú. 21 newspaper, regarding the recent teacher’s strike in Peru.
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Interview with Hugo Ñopo: teachers salaries and public investment in education
August 11, 2017 Education and learning
“We have to consolidate the teaching profession with representatives who are valid and recognized by the great majority. This a first step to move forward. Then comes the improvement of the teaching career, which goes through wages, but also by making those who ascend are in fact the most effective teachers”. Our senior researcher, Hugo […]
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Six in 10 private schools are low-cost and mostly of subsistence
August 11, 2017 Education and learning, State reform and public institutions
What is the situation of private education in Peru? The newspaper Gestión highlighted some of the topics discussed in the presentation of the study by our senior researchers, María Balarin and Hugo Ñopo, on the functioning of the market of educational services in our country [Video and wrap-up of the presentation here].
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Political analyst José Carlos Requena highlights a study by Juan José Díaz and Hugo Ñopo on the teaching career in Peru
August 6, 2017 Education and learning, State reform and public institutions
Political analyst José Carlos Requena highlights the study of our senior researchers Juan José Díaz and Hugo Ñopo on the teaching career in Peru, which is part of the book for our 35th anniversary: “We believe that a fundamental incentive for the career is to increase its prestige and for this, it is a priority to improve the salaries of teachers”. […]
Events
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Medellin: Santiago Cueto will discuss the challenges and opportunities of digital learning in Latin America
20/11/2017 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia Education and learning
In order to analyze relevant experiences of educational innovation in the region and identify the challenges for the future of digital learning, the city of Medellin will host the International Meeting: Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Learning in Latin America, on 20 and 21 of November. The meeting is held by the EAFIT University. During the first day, our […]
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Bogota: Gabriela Guerrero joined the Regional Agenda for the Integral Development of Early Childhood Forum
15/11/2017 → 16/11/2017 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Hotel Tequendama (Bogotá, Colombia) Education and learning
Our senior researcher, Gabriela Guerrero, joined the most relevant event on early childhood in Latin America and the Caribbean: the Regional Agenda for the Integral Development of Early Childhood Forum, on November 15 and 16, in Bogotá, Colombia. The event was made possible thanks to the partnership between the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia, the […]
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Santiago Cueto was speaker at Fe y Alegría seminar “Education: what Rural Peru offers us”
10/11/2017 Casa Hermasie Paget Education and learning
The rural worlds of Peru offer challenges and opportunities that encourage deliberation and the design of educational policies in the country. In this line, Fe y Alegria (Faith and Joy) held the First Seminar “Education: what rural Peru offers us”. The event brought together actors from several regions and fields of the State and Civil Society —researchers, educators and […]
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Cartagena de Indias: Hugo Ñopo will be speaker and workshop facilitator at the 8th International Research Seminar on Quality of Education
02/11/2017 → 03/10/2017 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Centro de Convenciones Cartagena Education and learning
Our senior researcher, Hugo Ñopo, will be speaker and workshop facilitator at the 8th International Research Seminar on Quality of Education, held by the Colombian Institute for the Evaluation of Education (Icfes), on November 2 and 3, 2017, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The Seminar aims to raise awareness of national and international research, as […]
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Ecuador: Santiago Cueto will share a lecture on educational research and innovations in Peru
24/10/2017 → 27/10/2017 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Education and learning
Our Research Director, Santiago Cueto, will share a lecture on educational research in Peru and its impact on educational innovations, in two events held by the Ecuadorian Association for the Promotion of Educational Research (ASEFIE). On October 24 and 25, Santiago will join the Andean International Meetings, in the city of Quito. On 26 and […]
- Education and Learning
- Employment, Productivity and Innovation
- Rural Development and Agriculture
- Ethnicity, Gender and Citizenship
- Methodologies for Research and Evaluation of Policy and Programmes
- Poverty and Equity
- Natural Resources, Extractive Industries and Social Conflict
- State Reform and Public Institutions
- Health and Nutrition
- Urbanization and Sustainable Cities






