When the Spaniards conquered the Inca Empire Tahuantinsuyo in 1531, the Andean social and cultural organization was established by the ?Ayllu.? Even today the majority of Andean communities live in social and cultural societies organized according to their ancestor?s traditions. Peru?s past was heralded and recognized world-wide for its cultural wealth and tradition. Unfortunately through the years the socioeconomic, political and cultural evolution has been slow coming, preventing the true descendants of the Inca Empire from achieving any real type of educational development. But today, in this modern age, there springs new hope for a better future. Like a spirit that is finally awakened from its lethargy and ignorance to the realization that, with the canalization of appropriate programs and leaders, with national and international aid, this once proud and vibrant people can rise again to their former status and prosperity. The Political Constitution of Peru declares in Chapter 1, Articles 1 and 2, that the protection of the individual and respect for his dignity are the supreme goal of society and the government. It also states that every individual has the right to life, identity, physical, psychological, and moral integrity, and free fulfillment and well-being. Every individual has the right to equality before the law. No one may be discriminated against because of his origin, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, economic status, or any other reason. Every individual has the right to freedom of conscience and religion, his ethnic and cultural identity. The government recognizes and protects the ethnic and cultural plurality of the nation.
theless, Peruvian indigenous communities face daily discrimination and isolation on a daily basis. Educational campaigns to improve and eliminate illiteracy have been offered to all nations, including the Andean areas of Peru, but due to the lack of economical resources it has not been proven that these educational programs reach the more remote and rural areas of the country. According to the National Institute of Statistic and Informatics performed for the 1993 Census, Peru counts with 1,784,281 illiterate individuals.
Any individual older than 15 who does not know how to read nor write is considered to be illiterate. The Peruvian indigenous communities experience high indices of illiteracy, especially amongst the Andean women. These women face situations of discrimination and exclusion in numerous levels, especially in the home and at their work place. Reasons such as poverty, ethnicity, geographic and genre isolation are only justifications to evade any type of help to improve the quality of living for them. This defenselessness is intensified by the existing culture of machismo. This machismo marginalizes Andean women who become submissive and scared by the abuse demonstrated by the men. Cultural and traditional factors including the demand of labor often prioritize men in the home, in the work place and in society.
