HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN COLOMBIA: CHARACTERISTICS, DEVELOPMENT - HISTORY - 2025

The history of education in Colombia dates back to colonial times, when the first settlers created spaces to teach religion to the indigenous people and with it the Spanish language.

However, these spaces were not considered schools, but were necessary to make the indigenous people adopt the culture of the Spanish. Now, education was initially in charge of the Catholic Church, and the first schools arose with the aim of educating the children of the colonizers, who professed the Catholic religion.

The first schools were created during the 16th century, when there were several descendants of the Spanish. They focused on teaching reading and writing, at the same time that the Catholic religion, Latin and the values ​​necessary to live in society were instilled.

In that sense, once the child learned to read and write and was old enough to have a career, he could choose between law, education, and theology. However, after the Independence of Colombia, education passed into the hands of the State and was no longer controlled by the Catholic Church.

However, the Catholic religion was never completely removed from education, as it remained part of the curriculum.

Most notable changes in Education in Colombia

It is important to mention that education as it is known today is the result of a set of changes that occurred over the years, in order to have an education according to the needs of society.

During the period prior to the Independence of Colombia, education was a benefit that only a few received, specifically “white” males (that is, the descendants of Spaniards) and according to their social stratum they could become high school graduates, teachers, doctors or lawyers. During this period education was private.

Free education

In 1870 Congress declared that primary education was free and compulsory and to achieve this it offered to apply 4% of the national budget to education.

Later in 1886, it was established that it would be regulated by the Ministry of Education, so it is observed that from that moment the Government of Colombia takes control of the Education of Colombians.

However, religion continued to play a key role, as it was still taught in schools. In that same year, education was divided into stages: primary, secondary and professional.

Division into rural and urban

At the beginning of the 20th century, primary education was divided into two classes; one rural and one urban. Secondary education is also divided into two parts; a technique and a classic.

However, at the beginning education was not valued, since the fraction of the population living in rural areas considered agriculture to be more important, because their means of subsistence was sowing. Education was considered useless, representing only a distraction that kept their children away from working in the fields.

Increase in budget for education

However, the Colombian government did not give up its attempt to include all children in the educational system. For this reason, in 1957 they increased the percentage of the national budget dedicated to investing in education, turning out to be 10% of it and a part was dedicated to university education.

Creation of the National Institutes of Diversified Secondary Education

Likewise, in order that a greater part of the population could continue their studies once they finished primary school, in 1969 the Ministry of Education created the National Institutes of Diversified Secondary Education.

These would have a duration of six years, divided into two cycles: a basic four (4) year cycle and a so-called professional cycle that lasted two (2) years.

However, there were still various factors that prevented boys and girls from attending schools, one of them being their remoteness.

For this reason, in 1977 they ordered the creation of more rural schools in order to make them more accessible, always with the firmness of including everyone.

Changes in college education

In 1980 changes emerged in university education. At that time, the Ministry of Education decided to divide higher education into four levels, which would be: intermediate professional studies, technological studies, university studies and postgraduate studies, each having a different duration.

During all this time, various projects were applied in order to adapt the educational system to the needs of society, some being a failure and others having positive results.

Finally, the educational system that is known today was reached, which is made up of: preschool education, basic education, secondary education and higher education.

Colombian educational system

Colombia's educational system is divided into four stages:

1- Preschool education, which is aimed at children between the ages of three (3) to six (6).

2- Basic education, divided into primary and secondary education. Primary education is for boys and girls between the ages of six (6) and 12, and this level of education is completely free.

While secondary education is not entirely free, since a certain percentage must be paid depending on the expenses that each family has. It is for boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 16.

3- Middle education, which consists of two years. At this stage the student can choose according to their professional vocation since the two courses serve as preparation for university.

As with secondary education, it is not entirely free since part must be paid and another part is paid by the Government and upon completion of it the bachelor's degree is awarded.

4- Higher education. To have access to it there are both public and private universities. However, it is important to note that the so-called “public” universities are not entirely public, since the same applies as for secondary and secondary education, but in this case the cost is higher.

References

1. Colombia Education, retrieved on July 7, 2017, from photius.com
2. Colombia-Higher Education, retrieved on July 7, 2017, from education.stateuniversity.com
3. Colombia -Secundary Education, retrieved on July 7, 2017, from education.stateuniversity.com
4. Colombia-Preprimary & Primary Education, retrieved on July 7, 2017, from education.stateuniversity.com
5. Education, retrieved on July 7, 2017, from colombiainfo.org
6. Educatio in Colombia, retrieved on July 7, 2017, from wikipedia.org.