Despoblación escolar en zonas rurales del Ecuador: Análisis de la disminución de la matrícula Escolar (2011-2023) en la provincia de Orellana

Abstract

Abstract: This study analyzed school depopulation in rural areas of Ecuador between 2011 and 2023, with a specific focus on the province of Orellana. Using data from the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), and applying a quantitative approach through multilevel models, the research examined the progressive decline in rural enrollment and its relationship with demographic transformations, rural to urban migration, poverty, educational infrastructure limitations, and territorial inequalities. The findings showed a sustained decrease in the school-age population, lower birth rates, and increasing migratory flows that affected student retention, particularly in dispersed and Indigenous communities. Persistent gaps in access, quality, and educational supply were also identified, associated with structural deficits in the Amazonian territory. The analysis demonstrated that rural schools continued to be key spaces for community cohesion; however, they required differentiated territorial policies that responded to the sociocultural and geographic particularities of Orellana. The study provided evidence to better understand the causes of school depopulation and to strengthen equity-oriented educational strategies in rural contexts.