The education sector was consolidated in 2024 as the one with the greatest budgetary execution among government entitiesas revealed by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in its Report on the Execution of the General Budget of the Nation (PGN).
(See: Forum: The Law of Competencies and its Impulse for Equity in Education)
With a 96.4% use of the assigned resources, education reaffirms its central role in the country’s social, cultural and economic transformation. The 2024 budget allocated $ 71 billion to the education sector, which has allowed strengthening key programs that guarantee access and quality at all levels of teaching, from preschool to higher education.
One of the most emblematic programs benefited from these resources has been the policy of free ‘I can study’, which has allowed thousands of children and young people to continue their training without economic barriers.
(See more: ‘Top’ 10: These are the best universities in the world, according to Times Higher Education)
In addition, investments in educational infrastructure have been made for the extension and improvement of learning spaces, together with the strengthening of the Escola Food ProgramA, a key initiative to guarantee the permanence of students in classrooms.
According to the education portfolio, resources have also been allocated to the dignification of teaching work, with salary improvements and training that seek to raise the quality of education. In addition, Strategies have been promoted to expand coverage in secondary education and ensure greater early childhood attentionsectors that require special attention to close inequality gaps.
(Read: Territorial entities ask for greater autonomy in health and education competences)
Education
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The Ministry of Finance report emphasizes that, in addition to education, other sectors with high budget execution were Health and social protection (94%), the Prosecutor’s Office (92.8%), Foreign Relations (91.3%) and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (90.1%).
(Also read: ‘Fintechs’ of educational financing grow during the registration season)
This budgetary performance, indicated, reinforces the importance of education as a fundamental pillar for the development of the country, demonstrating that efficient investment in this sector not only impacts positively on students and teachersbut also contributes to the social and economic growth of Colombia.
In addition to the impact on infrastructure and access to education, The budget execution of the sector has allowed strengthening research and innovation within universities, promoting the development of new technologies and impulse to scientific projects that benefit the country. Investment in Higher Education has guaranteed scholarships and subsidies for low -income students, facilitating their permanence and graduation.
(See more: Latin America uses only 6% of its income to invest in education)
Education
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They also reported that The strengthening of rural education programs has been a key aspect within the executed budget. Through the implementation of technology in classrooms, training for teachers and improvements in connectivity, the government seeks to reduce the educational gap between urban and rural areas, allowing children and young people from the most remote regions to access a quality education.
(See: Polarization, conflict and technology, trends in education by 2025)
For this reason, the portfolio stressed that transparency in the execution of resources is a key factor to guarantee the continuity of these policies and the strengthening of the sector. With efficient budget management, It ensures that education continues to be a priority for the country, benefiting millions of students and contributing to the development of a more equitable society prepared for the challenges of the future.
