¿Ser ñawiyuq o trabajar en las minas? Dilemas educativos de escolares en contextos mineros. El caso de una comunidad andina en Ocongate, Cusco

This article examines the expectations and decisions of families regarding education in the rural Community of Huacatinco, located in the district of Ocongate, in the Cusco region (southern Peruvian Andes), within a context of rapid changes. Quechua-speaking mothers and fathers use the metaphorical expression ñawiyuq ("with eyes") to express their desire for their children to receive a formal education. More specifically, their greatest aspiration is for their daughters and sons to complete secondary education and then pursue higher education, hoping that this will enable them to secure employment and achieve economic well-being. However, in practice, many young people forgo higher education to enter the workforce immediately, particularly in the informal mining sector. This study examines the gap between discourse, practices, and the structural socio-economic conditions that explain this phenomenon.