In practice, however, many children drop out before age 15, and, in rural areas only about one-third complete sixth grade. The government is striving to create better programs for the rural and urban poor, especially in technical and occupational training. In recent years, it has also been successful in reducing illiteracy. The year 1999 witnessed a high literacy rate relative to the rest of Latin America, 90.1 percent of Ecuadorians over the age of 15 are literate. Enrollment in primary schools has been increasing at an annual rate of 4.4 percent, faster than the population growth rate.
Public universities have an open admissions policy.
In recent years, however, large increases in the student population, budget difficulties, and the extreme politicization of the university system have led to a decline in academic standards. In terms of health and welfare, the infant mortality rate is 30.69 per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy is 72.16 years for the entire population - 69.54 years of age for males, and 74.9 years for females.