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$Unique_ID{COW00922}
$Pretitle{226}
$Title{Colombia
Education}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Colombian Information Service}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Colombia, Washington DC}
$Subject{colombia's
education
colombia
colombian
national
schools
service
system
institution
public}
$Date{1988}
$Log{Table 1.*0092201.tab
}
Country: Colombia
Book: A Sketch of Colombia
Author: Colombian Information Service
Affiliation: Embassy of Colombia, Washington DC
Date: 1988
Education
The foundation of Colombia's educational system has its roots in the
16th and 17th centuries when the Dominican, Franciscan and Jesuit orders
established the colony's first schools and universities in their religious
convents. All levels of parochial education continue to operate to this day.
In the 1930s, public education became a major concern of the country
and these institutions broadened in scope and importance. A comprehensive
program of modernization of the nation's entire educational system began in
1930.
Financing and supervision of public education is the joint
responsibility of the Ministry of Education, the Departments and
Municipalities. Secondary schools and universities are the responsibility of
the Ministry of Education, which also supports many primary schools and
directs technical education. Elementary education is free and comprises two
years of pre-school or kindergarten and five years of grade school. Admission
to any secondary school requires successful completion of the five-year
elementary program. Upon graduation from six years of secondary school, a
student may be admitted to an institution of higher education.
In addition to public and private primary and secondary schools,
Colombia's educational system includes schools for teacher training;
agricultural, business, and nursing schools; and other specialized
institutions. Colombia's rate of illiteracy has declined substantially and 88
per cent of the country's population can read and write.
Two important innovations since 1950 are the Colombian Overseas
Technical Specialization Institute (ICETEX), established in 1950 as an
autonomous government agency to promote, finance, and direct the advanced
training of technical personnel required for national development; and the
National Apprenticeship Service (SENA), established in 1957 to train young
workers and adults in agricultural and industrial crafts.
Colombia has 225 institutions of higher learning, including thirteen
state universities and eleven private ones. The National University is the
leading public institution and has branches in Medellin, Manizales and
Palmira. Founded in 1886 and reorganized in 1935, this institution is housed
in Bogota in the University City and consists of many modern buildings on a
beautiful campus. Bogota has eleven other universities, the oldest being
Santo Tomas, Javeriana Pontifical University,and Colegio Mayor del Rosario.
SENA, the National Apprenticeship Service, is the most important
teaching institution for vocational careers. SENA trains clerical,
administrative and blue collar workers, alternating six month teaching
periods with six months on-the-job training. A 2 per cent compulsory tax is
imposed on the payroll of all enterprises to finance the institution. And
10 per cent of all revenues are spent to train unemployed.
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
Transport
Colombia's rugged topography has been a major factor in hindering
transportation and causing the isolation and traditional independence of the
country's various regional centers. Since 1951, strides have been made in
developing transport facilities, especially in the Western and Central
Andean zones. Today, Colombia has a well integrated road system that totals
close to 62,460 miles. Among the country's most important roads are the
Caribbean Trunk Highway, linking the major Atlantic ports of Cartagena,
Barranquilla and Santa Marta with the Venezuelan highway system; the Pan
American Highway; and the Marginal Jungle Highway.
Air transportation is important to surmount Colombia's geographical
barriers. The country became a pioneer in developing commercial aviation with
the establishment in 1919 of the oldest commercial airline in operation in
the western hemisphere. In 1987, international air traffic through Colombia's
three gateway cities amounted to 1.07 million passengers.
The Colombian National Railway is well integrated into a single
operational system. It has a network of 2,000 miles.
Flota Mercante Grancolombiana, the Colombian merchant marine, has a
worldwide transport network covering 235 ports in 40 countries.
Communications
Colombia has a worldwide satellite telecommunications network. Local
telephone service is operated by the municipalities. There are 2.5 million
telephones in service, with fully automated service in over 100 cities.
About 88 per cent of Colombian households have television sets.
TOURISM AND ENTERTAINMENT
Tourism
Colombia's development of the tourist industry is being implemented with
public and private financial resources. First class hotel accommodations,
convention centers and tourist resorts in the Caribbean and Andean mountain
areas are quickly expanding.
Due to its exceptional geographical location at the crossroads of the
Americas, Colombia is easily accessible - either for business or pleasure.
Among the key destinations are Bogota, the capital; the walled Caribbean
coastal city of Cartagena; and the Amazon River port of Leticia.
Outdoor Activities
The diversity of tropical and mountain landscapes and the natural beauty
of the scenery are permanent objects of attraction. In the vicinity of Bogota
there are national parks, mountain hot springs and small towns with colorful
folklore. Both in the interior and the coastal regions, it is possible to
attend all year round special festivities during which typical airs of
regional music such as "Bambuco", "Pasillo", "Merengue" and "Cumbia" may be
heard. These Colombian melodies are well known abroad, as well as the
folklore dance groups.
Sports and Entertainment
In Colombia it is possible to practice most sports from mountain
climbing to aquatics. Cycling, football, baseball, basketball, boxing,
swimming and riding are very popular. Bullfighting attracts large crowds.
Colombia's extensive coastline facilitates all kinds of fishing. The
country's fauna is among the most varied in the Americas, and hunting is
excellent.
The country has an active cultural and social life. Concerts, theater,
local trade fairs and beauty contests are held all year round throughout the
country. Colombia's people are cheerful and open hearted. It reflects on
their hospitality, gay music and happy disposition.
[See Table 1.: Population, Area and Average Temperature]