COLOMBIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM
The education system within Colombia is highly similar to the one in the Netherlands. Colombia has primary and a secondary school. A law passed in 1886 states that education is regulated by the Ministry of Education. Another Colombian law states that 10% of the government’s budget must be spent on education. In spite of these laws presuming a good education system, Colombia seems to have a neglectful attitude toward education and it is hindering its economy. Student-led protests have been occurring to raise important points about the country’s budget priorities. There is inadequate funding for higher education, a large education gap between rural and urban areas, as well as equal access for higher education.
In Colombia, textbooks are not issued by the school forcing people to buy their own textbooks at local bookstores. In Colombia, both primary and secondary education use uniforms. This is so that all children have the same clothes and cannot be identified as rich or poor.
While government investment in higher education accounts for 0.4% of Colombia’s GDP, the average in the rest of Latin America is three times higher, about 1.2% of GDP (Rojas Mejia). Colombia is using only one-third of education funds that the rest of Latin America is using. Because of the lack of funding, students have begun to protest. While some of these protests are civil, students in Bogota have been detained for these. In 2009, for the first time in Colombia’s history, investment in security and defense exceeded investment in education (Rojas Mejia). We cannot deny the importance of the security for the country as well as its stability, but no other budget priority should outweigh an education investment. If Colombia wants to keep up with other emerging markets in South America and develop into a more competitive economy, investing in education for its people should be a top priority.
Primary schooling begins at the age of 6 and is mandatory in Colombia. However, only about 84 % of girls and 83 % of boys are enrolled in primary school. While Colombia’s graduation rates have increased and their repetition rates have decreased from the 1960’s, the numbers still are not perfect. The difference of rural vs. urban area play a significant role in the completion of primary school for children. Only 62% of students who entered primary schools in urban areas finished sixth grade, and in rural areas the rate was just 18%. Students in urban areas completed an average of 3.7 primary-school grades, whereas those in rural zones completed an average of only 1.7 grades (Colombian Educational Systems).
After primary school, children then go to secondary school for 4 years. The first two years, known as “basic secondary”, are general education courses. These are grades 6-9. while the last 2 years are more specific in attempting to form a career. The last two years are known as “mid-secondary” education. These are what we as Americans know as “vocational” courses. Technical schools offered specialized training in industrial subjects (mechanics, industrial chemistry, welding, farming) and commercial topics (accounting, office clerk). Other schools specialize in religious studies (Seminar schools for future Catholic priests), and teaching for preschool and elementary teaching. Traditional academic school, however, represents most of the offer in urban areas (Wikipedia).All students are required to pass the “pruebas de estado” test given by the Insituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educacion Superior (ICFS) in order to receive their “Bachiller” (secondary school) diploma (Colombian Educational Systems). After secondary, people who have a reasonable amount of income are able to move up to a university for further study. According to Carlos Alberto Casas Herrera, a professor at the University of Los Andes Education Research and Formation Center, “out of 100 students [who] start primary education in Colombia, only 40 will finish the 11th grade. Out of those, 10 will enter the university, and only five will graduate.” (Education in Colombia). While he does not go on to state why they will not graduate, it can be assumed that lack of funding, accessibility, and motivation, Colombia does not have a higher education graduation rate.
Resources:
Colombian Educational Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://www.bgcenter.com/BGW/ColombianEd.htm
Education. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://www.colombiainfo.org/en-us/colombia/education.aspx
Education in Colombia: Is There a Role for the Private Sector? - Knowledge@Wharton. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/education-in-colombia-is-there-a-role-for-the-private-sector/
Education System in Colombia. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://www.classbase.com/countries/colombia/education-system
Rojas Mejia, P. (2009, October 23). Education in Colombia: Underfunded, underperforming and undermining the country's progress. Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://colombiareports.com/education-in-colombia-underfunded-underperforming-and-undermining-the-countrys-progress/
In Colombia, textbooks are not issued by the school forcing people to buy their own textbooks at local bookstores. In Colombia, both primary and secondary education use uniforms. This is so that all children have the same clothes and cannot be identified as rich or poor.
While government investment in higher education accounts for 0.4% of Colombia’s GDP, the average in the rest of Latin America is three times higher, about 1.2% of GDP (Rojas Mejia). Colombia is using only one-third of education funds that the rest of Latin America is using. Because of the lack of funding, students have begun to protest. While some of these protests are civil, students in Bogota have been detained for these. In 2009, for the first time in Colombia’s history, investment in security and defense exceeded investment in education (Rojas Mejia). We cannot deny the importance of the security for the country as well as its stability, but no other budget priority should outweigh an education investment. If Colombia wants to keep up with other emerging markets in South America and develop into a more competitive economy, investing in education for its people should be a top priority.
Primary schooling begins at the age of 6 and is mandatory in Colombia. However, only about 84 % of girls and 83 % of boys are enrolled in primary school. While Colombia’s graduation rates have increased and their repetition rates have decreased from the 1960’s, the numbers still are not perfect. The difference of rural vs. urban area play a significant role in the completion of primary school for children. Only 62% of students who entered primary schools in urban areas finished sixth grade, and in rural areas the rate was just 18%. Students in urban areas completed an average of 3.7 primary-school grades, whereas those in rural zones completed an average of only 1.7 grades (Colombian Educational Systems).
After primary school, children then go to secondary school for 4 years. The first two years, known as “basic secondary”, are general education courses. These are grades 6-9. while the last 2 years are more specific in attempting to form a career. The last two years are known as “mid-secondary” education. These are what we as Americans know as “vocational” courses. Technical schools offered specialized training in industrial subjects (mechanics, industrial chemistry, welding, farming) and commercial topics (accounting, office clerk). Other schools specialize in religious studies (Seminar schools for future Catholic priests), and teaching for preschool and elementary teaching. Traditional academic school, however, represents most of the offer in urban areas (Wikipedia).All students are required to pass the “pruebas de estado” test given by the Insituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educacion Superior (ICFS) in order to receive their “Bachiller” (secondary school) diploma (Colombian Educational Systems). After secondary, people who have a reasonable amount of income are able to move up to a university for further study. According to Carlos Alberto Casas Herrera, a professor at the University of Los Andes Education Research and Formation Center, “out of 100 students [who] start primary education in Colombia, only 40 will finish the 11th grade. Out of those, 10 will enter the university, and only five will graduate.” (Education in Colombia). While he does not go on to state why they will not graduate, it can be assumed that lack of funding, accessibility, and motivation, Colombia does not have a higher education graduation rate.
Resources:
Colombian Educational Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://www.bgcenter.com/BGW/ColombianEd.htm
Education. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://www.colombiainfo.org/en-us/colombia/education.aspx
Education in Colombia: Is There a Role for the Private Sector? - Knowledge@Wharton. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/education-in-colombia-is-there-a-role-for-the-private-sector/
Education System in Colombia. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://www.classbase.com/countries/colombia/education-system
Rojas Mejia, P. (2009, October 23). Education in Colombia: Underfunded, underperforming and undermining the country's progress. Retrieved July 30, 2015, from http://colombiareports.com/education-in-colombia-underfunded-underperforming-and-undermining-the-countrys-progress/
Resources:
Image: http://www.aim.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/colombian-pres-juan-manuel-santos.jpg
Image 2: http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/t/colombia-national-flag-flagpole-blue-sky-background-39861406.jpg
Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/juanmanuel485347.html?src=t_colombia
Information: http://www.colombiaemb.org/overview
http://www.123independenceday.com/colombia/political-system.html
http://country-facts.findthedata.com/l/22/Colombia
Image: http://www.aim.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/colombian-pres-juan-manuel-santos.jpg
Image 2: http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/t/colombia-national-flag-flagpole-blue-sky-background-39861406.jpg
Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/juanmanuel485347.html?src=t_colombia
Information: http://www.colombiaemb.org/overview
http://www.123independenceday.com/colombia/political-system.html
http://country-facts.findthedata.com/l/22/Colombia
COLOMBIA'S PRODUCTION AND GDP
According to the CIA Factbook, Colombia produces the following items: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; shrimp, and forest products. These goods are able to be produced by local farmers within the country. These goods will also get exported to countries such as Colombia’s main trading partner, the United States. The main industries in Colombia include textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds. While Colombia exports all these goods, they also need to import items too (global interdependence). The items Colombia imports include: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, and electricity.
What is the country that you are researching:
Colombia.
Write a brief summary of the economic system of the country: Identify and explain the type of economic system.
Colombia has a market economy. A market economy is where decisions involving investment, production, and distribution are based upon supply and demand.
Select three key economic indicators such as poverty rates, labor distribution, use of resources, etc. and analyze what this information says about the country, how does it compare to other countries, change over time, etc.
The unemployment rate in Colombia in 2014 was estimated to be 9.1%. To use a comparison, the estimated unemployment rate in the United States in 2014 was 5.6%. That's close to double the rate of the United States. 17% of the labor force in Colombia works in agriculture. I found this number to be quite low considering they export so many different goods. This inflation rate in Colombia in 2013 was 2%, by 2014 it raised to 2.9%. That's almost a whole percent in one year! At that rate, Colombia's inflation will rise almost 5% in just 5 years.
Identify the GDP - per capita for the country
The GDP per capita is 2014 was $13,400.
What is the country that you are researching:
Colombia.
Write a brief summary of the economic system of the country: Identify and explain the type of economic system.
Colombia has a market economy. A market economy is where decisions involving investment, production, and distribution are based upon supply and demand.
Select three key economic indicators such as poverty rates, labor distribution, use of resources, etc. and analyze what this information says about the country, how does it compare to other countries, change over time, etc.
The unemployment rate in Colombia in 2014 was estimated to be 9.1%. To use a comparison, the estimated unemployment rate in the United States in 2014 was 5.6%. That's close to double the rate of the United States. 17% of the labor force in Colombia works in agriculture. I found this number to be quite low considering they export so many different goods. This inflation rate in Colombia in 2013 was 2%, by 2014 it raised to 2.9%. That's almost a whole percent in one year! At that rate, Colombia's inflation will rise almost 5% in just 5 years.
Identify the GDP - per capita for the country
The GDP per capita is 2014 was $13,400.