75% of young people in Colombia are unaware of the proposed education reform

This study conducted by the University of Rosario seeks to promote the constant pursuit of accessibility and quality in Colombian education.

The research, based on the opinion of 2001 young people aged 18 to 32 from various regions of the country, highlighted that, despite the general lack of knowledge, 73% of those who are aware of the government proposal are confident that the bills under consideration can effectively address current educational problems.

The study addressed regional representation in the process, highlighting that 61% of the young people surveyed do not feel like an integral part of building the reform. The Pacific region led in this sentiment with 68%, followed by the Central region (53%), Valle del Cauca (43%), and Bogotá (36%).

”Young people have expressed their desire to actively participate in educational reform. Although most do not feel represented in the process, there is significant confidence that the current proposals can make a difference,” stated Alejandro Cheyne, Rector of the University of Rosario.

The study addressed regional representation in the process, highlighting that 61% of the young people surveyed do not feel like an integral part of building the reform. The Pacific region led in this sentiment, with 68%, followed by the Central region (53%), Valle del Cauca (43%), and Bogotá (36%).

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One of the key points is the perception of the higher education funding model in Colombia. A resounding 58% advocated for a mixed model, while 38% supported public funding, and only 3% favored a completely private option, according to Rector Cheyne.

“Young people are looking for a balance in the funding model. They want a combination of public and private resources to ensure broader access to quality education,” he added.

The young people identified several challenges in higher education, with tuition costs (63) and access opportunities (55) being the most prominent. Other challenges included funding for public institutions (32), program quality (29), and educational innovation (21). | Photo: Icetex Press

Regarding student mobility, 88% of respondents expressed their willingness to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad, highlighting factors such as opportunities, educational quality, experiences, culture, well-being, and salaries as motivating factors. Additionally, 9% of respondents indicated they would choose to remain in the country.

The young people identified several challenges in higher education, with tuition costs (63 %) and access opportunities (55 %) being the most prominent. Other challenges included funding for public institutions (32 %), program quality (29 %), and educational innovation (21 %).

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Low and middle socioeconomic levels prefer public education at 61% and 60% respectively, while high socioeconomic levels do so at 46%. Regarding gender, 60% of women and 58% of men would opt for public education.

The study also asked young people about desired changes to the current educational model. 35% of those surveyed expressed a need for better guidance from high school onwards to facilitate entry into higher education.

Other proposed changes include orienting higher education towards work and professional life (18 %), better articulation between technical and professional training programs (11 %), and greater international standardization of undergraduate and postgraduate programs (9 %).

Source: The Country

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