The Roots and Repercussions of Educational Inequality on the Indigenous Populations of Peru

52 • Fall/Winter 2008 The inequality of the Peruvian educational system is not only rooted in economic inequality, but also in the indigenous, non-indigenous divide. Based on quantitative regression analyses and a qualitative examination of bilingual education, this paper finds that the marginalization of indigenous in Peru is correlated with low allocation of educational resources to the indigenous population. A case study comparing Moquegua and Lima demonstrates that governmental allocation of educational resources is prejudiced against the indigenous population. The incongruity between the high educational inequality levels and the average economic inequality levels across all of Peru inspired this closer investigation. Ultimately, the solution lies in a paradigmatic cultural shift in the treatment of indigenous people. This paper does, however, offer a few policy solutions in hopes that the Peruvian society and government might recognize and address persistent indigenous discrimination.