El Instituto Técnico Superior
Santa María de Fe, Paraguay


escuelita
Schools for the poor (from the Ligas hangings)


History of the Institute

When P.Antonio Betancor took the first steps to start the Santa María Institute in September 2000, his vision was of an Institute where the poor could study at tertiary level and at no cost. When the Institute began, schoolteachers donated their time to teach, and the first classes were held in the church.
the church of Santa Maria
the first, small, building
The Church at Santa Maria
The initial plan was for a teachers’ training college, but the number of qualified teachers in Paraguay was beginning to exceed the number of jobs available, so a technical education in Food Technology was chosen. This is an education with employment prospects, and it also has a natural focus in the countryside, where food is grown. In March 2001 the Institute began in earnest, and was recognised by the Ministry as the Instituto Profesional del Tercer Nivel, Santa María de Fe. Someone lent a small building, which was used throughout the first year.

Around this time, P. Betancor was moved to a parish in another part of the country, and the group of volunteer teachers forged the future of the Institute. There was no source of income, and the Institute began to charge very low fees to pay the bills. Some students could not pay, and all had difficulties. Around this time, some friends of Margaret Hebblethwaite offered to fund a few scholarships. And so the Santa Maria Education Fund was born.

When the first intake of students began their second year and there was a new intake of first-year students, the tiny loaned building was no longer big enough. In 2002 the Institute moved to a bigger, rented building, to make room for the intake of a new year of students. By this time, enough funds had come in not only to cover the rent but also for all the students to receive scholarships, and for the teachers to progress to semi-voluntary status. P. Betancor’s vision of free tertiary education began to be realised.
The first diplomands - 2004
The first group of students receive their diplomas as Food Technologists
In 2003 SMEF bought this second building so that the Institute could use it for “the higher education of young people of scarce resources, where admission and study is free”. In January 2004 the first group of students proudly but nervously received their diplomas, which enable them to work as professional technicians in factories and other food-producing companies.


Pictures of the Institute today
Full class in the quincho
 Because of Paraguay’s hot climate, many classes are given in the quincho - an outdoor classroom with a roof but no walls.
The Institute also has a large and lovely garden where the students can enjoy the shade, both for recreation and for outdoor classes.
recess
Some of the lab equipment has come from the British charity Labaid.
Second-hand computers have been donated by the British charity Interact.
computer room
Carlos Bedoya teaching
Margot Bremer teaching
High-quality university teachers donate their time to give occasional study days. Staff and students alike come to listen to a lecture by historian Carlos Bedoya [above left], and to Old Testament exegete Sister Margot Bremer [above right]
excursion
 Occasional educational excursions are organised to the other Jesuit Reductions of the region, which have ruins and museums.
dance classes
Nathan teaching
All the local people have access to a number of external classes that are available at low cost: in computing, typing, dance (above left), handicraft, and English (above right).


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