How do Colombians define success?
As in most cases, there are exceptions to the rule, but success in Colombia appears to mirror success in the United States. Parents and teachers want their children and students to finish high school, obtain university or vocational training, obtain a well-paying respectable job, get married, have children and become an active member of their community.
How does the Colombian education system prepare students for a successful future? It is a multi-faceted approach that considers the needs of the child as well as the community they will comprise.
* Public education is mandatory for grades 1-11.
* Colombian education addresses personal, cultural & social learning. Student evaluation is based on the following skills: Academic 70%, Personal 20%, Social 10%.
* The required courses for students include: Math, Science, Social Studies, Literature, English, PE, Religion, Arts, Peace, Ethics & Entrepreneurship.
* Problem Based Learning, Project Based Learning & Task Based Learning are encouraged to address the content in each course through 21st Century Skills.
* Colombia would like all students to be bilingual in Spanish & English by the year 2025. This means all 11th graders would achieve a minimum score of B1 on their English exams. ( The range from minimal English comprehension to advanced English comprehension is A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2).
* English is the most important foreign language for students to learn. French is the second most important. This is because the United States, the United Kingdom and France offer the most scholarships for Colombian students to attend universities in their countries. Colombia believes their country will grow and become more successful if their children attend universities in these countries and bring that knowledge back to Colombia.
* Colombia is a predominantly Catholic country and abortion is illegal, except in exceptional circumstances. If a teenage girl becomes pregnant, she must either raise the child or give the baby up for adoption. Because this can interfere with academic and career goals, schools strongly encourage abstinence.
* Parents must "buy in" to the educational process. They must purchase their children's school books, uniforms and supplies. If a student is failing a subject, parents must sign a student improvement contract and/or attend workshops before their child is permitted to return to class. If a parent cannot attend, a relative or friend must attend in their place. (We were told that although this is expected, it is a difficult rule to enforce.)
* Each school has a coordinator who is responsible for overseeing the well-being and academic success of the students. He or she must call parents if serious issues arise and to ensure their attendance and participation in mandatory workshops.
The Colombian Government has proposed the following goals for 2025:
Peace throughout the country
Eradication of extreme poverty in the country
Highest education levels in Latin America
How is Colombia progressing?
* Colombia has risen from a 65.5% literacy rate in 1985 to 90% today.
* While older generations remember the violence of Colombia's past, the current generation exudes a sense of hope for Colombia's future. While bullying is still present in schools, students are learning and actively using communication skills and techniques for peaceful resolution to conflict.
* Colombians exhibit a deep love for community, foreigners, their culture and their country and they want others to know that they are redefining their image and their future for the better.
Peace throughout the country
Eradication of extreme poverty in the country
Highest education levels in Latin America
How is Colombia progressing?
* Colombia has risen from a 65.5% literacy rate in 1985 to 90% today.
* While older generations remember the violence of Colombia's past, the current generation exudes a sense of hope for Colombia's future. While bullying is still present in schools, students are learning and actively using communication skills and techniques for peaceful resolution to conflict.
* Colombians exhibit a deep love for community, foreigners, their culture and their country and they want others to know that they are redefining their image and their future for the better.