Few people thought that there could be a school in the rural heart of Timbiquí, specifically the village of Los Brazos, which had nothing to envy in the educational centers of big cities like Bogotá, Cali or Medellín because of the quality of the infrastructure.
With a pioneering project of the Ministry of Education of Colombia and CAF – the development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean -, in collaboration with the National Government and local communities, we show that quality education can be brought to the most remote areas of the country and, as that is, to close educational gaps.
At the beginning of this year we provided the new facilities of the Puerto Saija Ethno-Education Institute – Los Brazos Headquarters, an innovative model based on modular technology that seeks to change access to education in the most inaccessible areas of the country, offering inclusiveness. and quality service for historically marginalized communities. Considering that 46.8% of the country’s dwellings are more than 10 hours from the nearest city and 65.4% more than 2 hours from the main roads, this project represents significant progress in terms of equal access to education .
This project is directly benefiting 132 children and young people from the villages near Timbiquí. With the construction of a new area of 440 m², and more than 400 m2 An improved existing infrastructure, the new education center has modern classrooms, a multi-purpose dining room that will also be a community space, and basic services such as drinking water, energy and sanitation. Likewise, the multi-purpose park was improved and a dock was built to allow safe access for children and the public. This will be the first in a series of modular schools in Colombia, specifically designed to overcome connectivity barriers in rural areas.
There is a deficit of more than 50% in school enrollment in the area of the municipality of Timbiquí, with an active demand of 7,801 students. This case highlights the need to guarantee quality education for the entire student population, thereby reducing educational gaps that affect regional equity. This pilot project seeks to be a concrete step towards resolving these differences.
The joint involvement of the Ministry of Education, CAF and local communities demonstrates the importance of inter-institutional alliances to combat inequality. This effort not only focuses on improving the educational infrastructure, but also helps close socio-economic gaps, ensuring that access to education is a universal right, regardless of geographic location or socio-economic level.
With an investment of 3.6 billion pesos (COP), the project was carried out in collaboration with teachers, directors, community leaders and local families. The implementation of the modular school system not only maximizes the construction of quality educational institutions, but also contributes to the expansion of educational coverage throughout the country, especially in areas with difficult access. In addition, this technology has the potential to become a public policy that expands quality education nationally and in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Projects like the one in Timbiquí start a wider effort to ensure inclusive and quality education in all parts of the country. Investment in educational infrastructure is a necessary step, but it must be complemented by initiatives that strengthen academic programs, train teachers, and provide the necessary resources so that students can develop their maximum potential.
This initiative can be replicated in other regions of the country, where geographical barriers have historically hindered educational coverage. The Timbiquí modular school is an example of the benefits of intersectoral coordination, with the common objective of improving the living conditions of new generations and helping to close socio-economic gaps in Colombia.
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