Tag Archives: Colombia

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Colombia has a long and storied educational history. Education in Colombia has undergone drastic changes over the years, from the colonial period through to the present day. The country’s education system is highly regarded, with a strong emphasis on quality teaching and learning. During the colonial period, access to education was largely restricted to elites. The Jesuits established some of the earliest schools, which were primarily intended for upper-class children from wealthy families. In 1774, Spain’s King Charles III decreed that all children should receive an education; however, this law was largely ignored by local authorities in Colombia. In the early 19th century, a number of private schools were opened in Bogotá and other cities. By mid-century, public schools had been established in all major cities and towns. Education was still largely limited to privileged classes; however, there were some efforts to provide basic education to poorer children as well as indigenous groups in rural areas. In the 20th century, Colombia underwent significant educational reform as part of broader social and economic changes taking place throughout Latin America. This included increased government funding for public schools and universities, as well as initiatives designed to improve access to education for marginalized groups such as women and Afro-Colombians. By the late 20th century, Colombia had achieved near universal primary school enrollment rates and made great strides towards improving literacy levels throughout the country. Today, Colombia boasts one of Latin America’s most advanced educational systems with high enrollment rates at all levels of schooling – primary school (99%), secondary school (84%), and tertiary (university) education (48%). The Colombian government continues to invest heavily in its educational infrastructure with a focus on improving quality teaching methods while providing greater access to underprivileged communities across the country. In 2009, the domestic politics of Colombia were shaped by the presidential election of Alvaro Uribe, who was re-elected for a second term. Uribe’s policies were characterized by an aggressive approach to combating the illegal drug trade and insurgency from armed guerrilla groups such as FARC. His government also sought to improve security on the streets and reduce poverty levels. Uribe’s policies were controversial, but he enjoyed high approval ratings throughout his term in office. At the same time, Colombia’s foreign policy was focused on strengthening ties with its neighbors in Latin America and beyond. The country sought to strengthen economic ties with its Andean neighbors through trade agreements such as CAN (the Andean Community) and ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas). In addition, Colombia looked to increase its presence in international forums such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and United Nations (UN). In particular, it played an active role in promoting peace efforts in neighboring countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador, which had seen their own political crises during this period. Colombia also sought to strengthen ties with Europe and North America during this period. It signed a Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 2006 that opened up new markets for Colombian exports. The country also joined forces with Mexico to form a strategic alliance known as “Coalition for Prosperity” that aimed to address issues related to security, development, democracy, human rights and anti-corruption initiatives across Latin America. In 2009, Colombia also took steps towards improving relations with its former adversaries such as FARC rebels and ELN guerrillas. Following a series of negotiations between government representatives and rebel leaders, President Uribe declared a ceasefire agreement that brought an end to five decades of armed conflict in Colombia. This agreement marked an important milestone for both domestic politics within Colombia and its foreign policy agenda towards neighboring countries. Check internetsailors for Colombia in 2011.