Education in Peru
Encyclopedia
Education in Peru is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education
, which is in charge of formulating, implementing and supervising the national educational policy. According to the Constitution
, education is compulsory
and free
in public schools for the initial
, primary
and secondary
levels. It is also free in public universities
for students who are unable to pay tuition and have an adequate academic performance. As of 2008, various institutions such as UNESCO
, World Bank
, and the Inter-American Development Bank
have stated that Peru has the best education system in Latin America
and that primary, secondary, and superior education attendance rates were the highest in Latin America
.
(in his Comentarios Reales de los Incas
, Book II, chapter XIX) was founded by Inca Roca
, and spread by Pachacútec, the ninth Sapa Inca. This education was exclusively designed for the royal elite, and later for the sons of conquered chiefs. At this level, they were educated to become administrators and leaders. The teachers were Amautas, men well-versed in philosophy and morality. The education was strict and punishment was used. The curriculum was based in mathematics and astronomy, both necessary for an economic system based in agriculture. Learning Quechua
was mandatory, more for political than educational reasons.
. However, the native population in general did not have access to formal education, only informal education. The education of the time was predominantly religious, and run by different religious orders and priests.
In the Viceroyalty of Peru there were many collegies, the most notable of which were the following:
The objective of early education is to promote the development of the child through a rights-based approach with the involvement of the parents (internal agents), people close to the child, educators (external agents), implementing early education centres with strategies based on free play and the role of children.
Schools in rural areas are associated with less average knowledge of pupils. There is a correlation of malnutrition and low achievement at school. Income shows a positive correlation with education.
Ministry of Education (Peru)
The Ministry of Education in Peru was created on February 4, 1837, in times of fervor caudillista and republican agitation of a country that arises to the independent life, don Andrés de Santa Cruz, Captain general and President of Bolivia, Big Pacifying Marshall of Peru, Supreme Protector of the...
, which is in charge of formulating, implementing and supervising the national educational policy. According to the Constitution
Constitution of Peru
The Constitution of Peru is the supreme law of Peru. The current constitution, enacted on December 31, 1993, is Peru's fifth in the 20th century and replaced the 1979 Constitution....
, education is compulsory
Compulsory education
Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required of all persons.-Antiquity to Medieval Era:Although Plato's The Republic is credited with having popularized the concept of compulsory education in Western intellectual thought, every parent in Judea since Moses's Covenant with...
and free
Free education
Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation, or charitable organizations rather than tuition fees. Although primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries, for example, all education is mostly free including...
in public schools for the initial
Preschool education
Preschool education is the provision of learning to children before the commencement of statutory and obligatory education, usually between the ages of zero and three or five, depending on the jurisdiction....
, primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
levels. It is also free in public universities
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
for students who are unable to pay tuition and have an adequate academic performance. As of 2008, various institutions such as UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, and the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
have stated that Peru has the best education system in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and that primary, secondary, and superior education attendance rates were the highest in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
Education in the pre-Inca cultures
No written or oral records exist of an organized educational system in the pre-Inca cultures. However, the demonstrated level of evolution of these cultures indirectly suggests the existence of an educational system. Each culture developed an ideal way of training people for their own competitive interests and particular specializations. Such training and education could explain the metalwork, ceramics, and textiles that have survived to this day, which were produced with techniques which had been passed down and perfected, and have unfortunately been lost with the conquering of many other cultures.Education in the Incan empire
Formal education according to Inca Garcilaso de la VegaInca Garcilaso de la Vega
Garcilaso de la Vega , born Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, was a historian and writer from the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. The son of a Spanish conquistador and an Inca noblewoman, he is recognized primarily for his contributions to Inca history, culture, and society...
(in his Comentarios Reales de los Incas
Comentarios Reales de los Incas
The Comentarios Reales de los Incas is a book written by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the first mestizo writer of colonial Andean South America...
, Book II, chapter XIX) was founded by Inca Roca
Inca Roca
Inca Roca was the sixth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco and the first of the Hanan dynasty. His wife was Mama Michay, and his son was Yáhuar Huácac.- Biography :...
, and spread by Pachacútec, the ninth Sapa Inca. This education was exclusively designed for the royal elite, and later for the sons of conquered chiefs. At this level, they were educated to become administrators and leaders. The teachers were Amautas, men well-versed in philosophy and morality. The education was strict and punishment was used. The curriculum was based in mathematics and astronomy, both necessary for an economic system based in agriculture. Learning Quechua
Quechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
was mandatory, more for political than educational reasons.
Education in the Viceroyalty of Peru
In the colony, it was deemed necessary to instruct the conquered people in the doctrines of Roman Catholicism, and transform them into loyal subjects. They began re-educating the native adults and providing instruction to the children and youth, indoctrinating and educating them in the rudiments of European social life to use them to benefit the State. This was called elementary education, as there were other institutes, such as the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (founded on May 12, 1551), which was accessible only to those of the aristocratic class, people with political and economic power; "middle school," where they educated the Creoles, Mestizos, and some wealthy merchants; and "colegio de caciques" (or "college of chiefs"), which was established in 1536 and ran until it was abolished by Simón BolívarSimón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
. However, the native population in general did not have access to formal education, only informal education. The education of the time was predominantly religious, and run by different religious orders and priests.
In the Viceroyalty of Peru there were many collegies, the most notable of which were the following:
- Colegio Máximo de San Pablo de Lima, run by the Jesuits in LimaLimaLima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, founded in 1568. In this school one could study art, philosophy, and the native languages of Peru. - Colegio Mayor de San Felipe y San Marcos, the school for the sons of the conquistadors, led by priests of the Archdiocese of Lima and founded by Viceroy Toledo in 1575.
- Colegio Real de San Martín, founded by Viceroy Don Martín Enríquez de Almansa in 1582, where case law was studied.
- San Idelfonso, run by the Augustinians.
- San Antonio de Abad (CuscoCuscoCusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
), from which the university originated. - Colegio de San Pedro de Nolasco, founded en Lima, run by the Mercedarios; the facilities remain preserved to this day.
- El Colegio del Príncipe, established by Royal Decree of King Carlos IIICarlos IIICarlos III may refer to:*Charles III of Spain, King of Spain from 1759 to 1788.*Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a Spanish university bearing his name....
after the expulsion of the Jesuits, was the former "college of chiefs" of the native nobility, created during the reign of Viceroy Francisco de Borja y Aragón Príncipe de Esquilache in Lima. Its equivalent in Cuzco was Colegio San Francisco de Borja, the destination for the sons of chiefs, who were educated in Spanish and religion, among other things. - Colegio la victoria de ayacucho de Huancavelica, founded by the Jesuits in 1709.
- Colegio de la Villa de Moquega, founded in 1711 by the Jesuits.
- Colegio de Ica, founded in 1719 by the Jesuits.
- Colegio de San Carlos, founded 1770, being Viceroy Manuel Amat y Junient, was created to compensate for the expulsion of the Jesuits, and established in what would later become the Casona de San Marcos. It was in this college that Don Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza y Fray Diego Cisneros would begin the movement for educational reform.
- Santo TomásSanto TomasSanto Tomás, Spanish for Saint Thomas, describes numerous locations.- Places in the world :*Argentina**Santo Tomás, Buenos Aires, Carlos Casares Partido, Buenos Aires Province*El Salvador**Santo Tomás, El Salvador*Guatemala...
, run by the DominicansDominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
. - San BuenaventuraSan BuenaventuraSan Buenaventura is a town and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.It is located at , in the state's central region .There were 19,986 inhabitants in 2000.-External links:*...
, run by the Franciscan Order.
Legislation
The following laws apply to the Peruvian educational system:- General de Educación
- Universitaria Nº 23733
- Promoción de la Inversión Privada en Educación Nº 882" law
- Sistema Nacional de Evaluación, Certificación y Acreditación de la Calidad Educativa. Nº28741
Early Education
This education begins from age three, and exists to maximize the periods of a child's development in which a child easily assimilates determined learning. It is important to know how to focus the educational effort for each stage of a child's development to offer the greatest benefit and opportunities. In early education, the child controls his or her own learning with the assistance of internal and external agents which offer optimal conditions for realizing his or her capabilities.The objective of early education is to promote the development of the child through a rights-based approach with the involvement of the parents (internal agents), people close to the child, educators (external agents), implementing early education centres with strategies based on free play and the role of children.
Primary School
The student begins in the first cycle, which consists of the first and second grade. The age of the children entering this stage of their education is six years. This level begins at first grade, and ends with sixth grade and is divided, for curricular purposes, into three cycles: cycle one (first and second grade), cycle two (third and fourth grade), and cycle three (fifth and sixth grade); after sixth grade, the student passes on to secondary school. Additionally, there are decision-making systems available for the parents to determine whether they want to send their child to public or private school.Higher Education
Higher education in Peru consists of technological colleges, both public and private. They offer courses lasting three years (approximately 3,000 hours of study), graduating with a title as Technical Professionals. Some courses may be four years in length (approximately 4,000 hours of study), and a student would graduate with the title of Professional.University Education
Higher education in the form of universities began in Peru with the establishment of the Universidad Nacional Major de San Marcos by the Royal Decree issued by King Carlos V on the 12th of May in 1551. The institute opened as the Sala Capitular del Convento de Santo Domingo in 1553. In 1571, it obtained Papal approval and in 1574 it received the name of Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. The precursor to the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, the "Estudio General o Universidad," was established in Cusco by the Dominicans on July 1, 1548. This institution was responsible for teaching evangelists for the new lands, and taught scripture, theology, grammar, and the Quechuan language.Non-university Education
In Peru, non-university education is provided by technological institutions, educational institutions, technical production education centres, and other facilities. These institutions are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which is responsible for providing their operating licenses.School years
The table below describes the most common patterns for schooling in the state sector:| Minimum age (common) | Year | Months | Schools | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N/A | N/A | Nursery Nursery school A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare... |
Estimulación Temprana | |
| 3 | 3 años | N/A | Pre-School | Kinder / Educación inicial | |
| 4 | 4 años | N/A | |||
| 5 | 5 años | N/A | |||
| 6 | 1° de primaria | N/A | Primary school / Elementary school Elementary school An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar... |
Primaria / Educación básica | |
| 7 | 2° de primaria | N/A | |||
| 8 | 3° de primaria | N/A | |||
| 9 | 4° de primaria | N/A | |||
| 10 | 5° de primaria | N/A | |||
| 11 | 6° de primaria | N/A | |||
| 12 | 1° de secundaria | N/A | Secondary school Secondary school Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place... / High school High school High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions.... |
Secundaria / Educación secundaria | |
| 13 | 2° de secundaria | N/A | |||
| 14 | 3° de secundaria | N/A | |||
| 15 | 4 de secundaria | 1st and 2nd semesters | |||
| 16 | 5 de secundaria | 3rd and 4th semesters | Bachelor's degree Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world... / Licenciate |
Licenciatura / Educación superior | |
| 17 | 1st and 2nd semesters | 5th and 6th semesters | |||
| 18 | N/A | 3rd and 4th semesters / 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters | |||
| 19 | N/A | 5th and 6th semesters | |||
| 20 | N/A | 7th and 8th semesters | |||
| 21 | N/A | 9th and 10th semesters | |||
| 22–23 | N/A | ... | Master's degree Master's degree A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice... |
Maestría | |
| N/A | N/A | ... | Doctorate Doctorate A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder... |
Doctorado | |
Quality
By law Nº 28740, the National System of Quality, Evaluation, and Certification (del Sistema Nacional de Calidad, Evaluación y Certificación (SINEACE)) is a system that promotes the quality of the education in the country through the establishment of operating organizations which accredit the educational quality of the educations, from basic education to technical schools and universities.Schools in rural areas are associated with less average knowledge of pupils. There is a correlation of malnutrition and low achievement at school. Income shows a positive correlation with education.