Colombian President Gustavo Petro has signed a groundbreaking decree granting free undergraduate education for public university students. This decisive move, announced recently, is aimed at covering tuition costs across various higher education programs. The decree is part of President Petro’s efforts to fulfill his campaign promises and address the educational needs of the Colombian student population for better opportunities. It focuses on eliminating access barriers and ensuring educational development through equality.
The decree details a policy aimed at public universities, with the goal of removing access barriers and ensuring sustained educational progress under equitable criteria. However, the implementation of this norm will be gradual, aligning with the available budget and the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. The Ministry of Education, the Administrative Department for Social Prosperity, and ICETEX, mostly governing public education institutions, are among the entities responsible for implementing this measure. Beneficiaries must provide required information to educational institutions and will bear additional costs not covered by the policy, such as graduation fees.This initiative represents a significant step towards educational reform in Colombia, aiming to make higher education more accessible and equitable for all Colombian students.