I have been working as a language instructor for nearly a decade now, and I have seen El Salvador go through some incredible transformations. Lately, when I walk through the streets or talk to my neighbors, the conversation almost always turns to the big changes in our public schools.

You might have seen it too: kids carrying government-issued laptops on the bus or teachers talking about new digital tools. It feels like we are standing at the edge of a new era, but as someone who spends their day in the classroom, I cannot help but ask: are we actually ready for this?

From my experience, change is rarely as simple as handing out a tablet or updating a website. Behind every shiny new piece of technology is a teacher trying to figure out how to make it work while also worrying about their next electricity bill or the forty students waiting for their attention.

We are seeing a massive shift where parents are actually choosing public schools over private ones because they simply can no longer afford the $60 or $70 monthly tuition. This puts a huge spotlight on our public system. It is an exciting time, but it is also a bit overwhelming.

The Great Migration to Public Schools

A few years ago, the idea of moving a child from a private Catholic or Christian school to a public one was almost unthinkable for many families. Private schools were seen as the only path to a “good” education. But things are changing.

I have noticed that several private schools have actually had to close their doors because parents are moving their kids to the public sector. Why? Part of it is the cost. With the rising cost of living in El Salvador, paying $70 a month for high school is a luxury many families can no longer justify.

At the same time, there is a new sense of hope. People see the improvements in security and the new infrastructure, and they want to believe that public education is finally catching up. However, as I often tell my colleagues, these changes are going to take years to really show results. We are planting seeds right now, but we won’t see the full forest for another ten or twenty years. It is a marathon, not a sprint, and the people running that marathon are the teachers.

New Tech, Same Old Challenges?

One of the biggest talking points lately is the curriculum. We are seeing things like Bitcoin being added to the lessons and laptops being given to every student. It sounds like something out of a futuristic movie compared to how things were when I started teaching. But here is the catch: a curriculum is only as good as the person delivering it.

I remember my first job in a language academy. I had to follow a very specific methodology where I had to keep the energy high and make students repeat words over and over. It worked for some, but it was exhausting.

Now, imagine a public school teacher who is suddenly told they need to integrate high-tech tools and complex new subjects into their daily routine. Are they suited for it? Some are, but many are feeling the pressure of trying to adapt to a “new mindset” while still dealing with the “survival mindset” that has been part of our culture for so long.

The Money Talk: Why Teachers are Uncomfortable

Let’s be honest: you cannot talk about education without talking about money. There is a persistent gap between what teachers are asked to do and what they are actually paid. Many of my peers are feeling uncomfortable, and for a good reason. They are seeing these big investments in technology and buildings, but their salaries haven’t kept up with the rising costs of everything else in the country.

I recently read an article about how people often have “calendar envy” when it comes to teachers because of our summer breaks. But people don’t see the emotional weight we carry. They don’t see the hours spent planning, the unanswered emails from parents, or the modified lessons for students who are struggling.

When you multiply that by a whole school year, a break doesn’t feel like a luxury; it feels like a necessary recovery period. If a teacher is stressed about how to pay for groceries, it is much harder for them to be the “dynamic and easygoing” leader their students need.

Real-Life Examples: The Crowded Classroom

To understand how this affects real people, look at class sizes. I have taught groups of four students, ten students, and even forty students. I can tell you from vivid experience that teaching forty kids is the worst. You basically just go there and hope they learn something because it is impossible to track the progress of every single child.

In some of the more “expensive” academies where I worked, groups were capped at about ten students. The quality of learning there is night and day compared to the cheaper academies that have twenty-five or more students in a single online group just to cover the costs.

As our public schools become more popular, we run the risk of overcrowding. If we don’t hire enough teachers and pay them well, all those new laptops will just be expensive paperweights in a room where the teacher is too overwhelmed to use them.

Common Misunderstandings About the “New” Education

There are a few things I hear people say that I think we need to clear up:

• “Technology equals better education”: Just because a student has a tablet doesn’t mean they are learning. It is a tool, like a pen or a book. If the teacher isn’t trained to use it creatively, it doesn’t change the outcome.
• “Public schools are now ‘perfect’”: While they are improving, we are still in the early stages. The economic disparity in our society is growing, and many families still face significant financial hardships.
• “Teachers have it easy”: People see the school day end at 2:00 PM and think the work is done. But the documentation, the behavior follow-ups, and the emotional energy required to manage a classroom continue long after the final bell.

The Personal Shift We All Need

One of the most profound things I’ve realized is that this change isn’t just about laws or infrastructure. It is about a “personal shift in perspective”. We are moving from a country where people were just trying to survive to a place where we are trying to actually “live” and build a future.

This is hard! A change in mindset isn’t instantaneous. It requires continuous education, not just for kids, but for all of us. We have to learn how to interact in this new era, how to support our public institutions, and how to value the professionals who are shaping the next generation. As I have seen in the language academies where I worked, the human interaction is what makes the experience “a thousand times better,” no matter what the methodology is.

Looking Toward the Future

I am hopeful, but I am also a realist. I know that achieving true change requires a massive, collective effort. We need to make sure that as the country evolves, we don’t leave the teachers behind. They are the ones who have to turn these new curricula into real knowledge. They are the ones who have to help kids move from fear to freedom.

If you are a parent, take a moment to thank your child’s teacher. If you are a student, realize that your teacher is likely carrying a lot more than just a textbook. We are all in this together, and while the road ahead is long, the fact that we are even having these conversations shows how far we have come. Let’s keep pushing for an education system that values people as much as it values progress.

The next twenty years will be the real test. We might not see the full impact of these laptops and new lessons today, but if we support our educators and keep adjusting our mindset, we might just build the future we’ve all been dreaming of.