After the Icfes released the individual results of the Saber 11 A calendar tests, the entity also revealed some interesting data at the national level, weeks before the aggregate results of the tests are revealed, which will provide a much clearer picture of the students’ performance in year. Among them, the regions with the best scores.
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And one of the data that attracts the most attention is the data of the regions that achieved the highest averages. These are specifically Floridablanca (294), Duitama (294) and Tunja (293), municipalities that were ranked as the best in the country (it must be taken into account that the maximum score possible in the Saber 11 tests ).
The most significant thing is that, at least in the popular imagination, these populations should not be occupying those positions, and instead the first places should be occupied by large cities, where a bigger budget for schools, both public and private, and better conditions.
However, the truth is that when it comes to the historical details of the Icfes, this is not surprising. In fact, these three municipalities, and some others like Envigado, are the best performers every year, while larger cities tend to be further behind.
For example, there is the case of Floridablancawhich was not only the best municipality, but also yes the high school student with the best score this year, Valeria Díaz González, who got 495 points out of a possible 500.
But Floridablanca has had its schools as the best in the country for years, for example the Nuevo Cambridge school or a few years ago La Quinta del Puente, which closed in 2022 after years of being the best institution in the country.
The good performance in this Santander population comes from years ago, as explained by the education expert, Francisco Cajiao: “The case of Floridablanca is a municipality which, according to Icfes figures in recent years, is one of the best, if not the best, in terms of the results of this examination.. It is a municipality that has been committed for many years to getting very good high school graduates, to the point that scoring in Knowledge tests is almost an obligation for them.”
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Nuevo Cambridge School, in Floridablanca, among the best in the country.
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Duitama It is another case similar to the municipalities whose education departments, as well as both public and private institutions, have made a strong effort to stand out in their academic performance and have managed to stay in first place in recent years.
In all cases, they are cities with few educational institutions, compared to other regions of the country, where great efforts, both public and private, are combined so that the standard is particularly high.
What about big cities?
At the moment, the Icfes has not published the aggregate results for the year 2024 which account for the performance of each of the certified departments and municipalities (each of which has its own education secretariat). However, everything seems to indicate that the trends will be similar to those of the past years.
In this line of thought, For the year 2023, Bogotá was the best among the departments and the capital, but 20 points below the municipality with the best score. Other cities such as Medellín and Barranquilla tend to be located above the national average, but maintain a large distance from the first places.
“This phenomenon can be read from two points of view: the first is that cities like Bogotá or Medellín are the territorial entities with the most resources, with schools that can be more expensive, but also with public institutions more equipped, with better infrastructure. With all this, it is worrying that they do not score, because that is where more resources are allocated to education,” explains Ricardo Rodríguez, education analyst.
However, Rodríguez argues that sheer size works against them: “Bogotá has many of the best schools in the country, easily four in the top 10. But it is also an unequal city, where, especially in unfavorable areas, The. results are also poor, lowering the city’s overall score. It’s a place where about 90,000 people take Saber 11 tests.”
Are we getting better or worse as a country?
According to the information revealed by the Icfes so far, and Taking Calendar A results alone, the country’s performance improved slightly in 2024 compared to 2023.
According to the entity, the total score of the tests improved by 2 points compared to the 2023 results, going from 257 to 259 points.
For Elizabeth Blandón, director of Icfes, this small improvement lies in particular in two evaluation skills: “In 2024 the global average score increased by 2 points compared to 2023. This result is presented by the increase in Mathematics tests (1 point) and Natural Sciences (1 point), while the rest of the tests showed no variation.”
After the global score of 259 points in the country, it was clear, according to sex, that men received 264 points and women 255. According to the Institute of Education, the non-officials (private) received 287 points and the official (public) 252 .While the Educational Institutions located in urban areas received 265 points, the rural ones received 235 points.
MATEO CHACÓN ORDUZ
Deputy Editor Life – Education
Time.news Interview: Education in Colombia’s Best Performing Regions
Interviewer: Rebecca Torres, Editor at Time.news
Guest: Francisco Cajiao, Education Expert
Rebecca: Good morning, Francisco! Thank you for joining us today.
Francisco: Good morning, Rebecca! It’s a pleasure to be here.
Rebecca: Recent data from the Icfes regarding the Saber 11 A calendar tests has drawn quite a bit of attention, particularly around the regions that achieved the highest scores. Could you give us an overview of the top-performing municipalities?
Francisco: Certainly! The standout municipalities this year are Floridablanca and Duitama, both scoring 294, and Tunja with 293. These results are quite surprising, especially when considering the common perception that larger cities like Bogotá or Medellín would naturally take the lead due to their greater resources.
Rebecca: That’s an interesting point. Why do you believe these smaller municipalities are consistently outperforming the larger urban areas?
Francisco: Well, it boils down to a few critical factors. Firstly, municipalities like Floridablanca have been committed to enhancing their educational standards for many years. They focus on producing high-quality high school graduates, and this commitment has become ingrained within the community. For instance, the Nuevo Cambridge School in Floridablanca has a solid reputation for excellence, and its educators have a long-standing record of preparing students exceptionally well for these tests.
Rebecca: It sounds like a community effort. Are there specific practices or programs in these regions that contribute to their success?
Francisco: Yes, indeed! The educational institutions in these areas tend to be fewer in number but are highly dedicated to maintaining high standards. Both public and private schools work hand in hand to ensure that academic performance remains top-notch. Since there’s a stronger focus on educational quality rather than quantity, students in these regions often see higher overall performance on standardized tests.
Rebecca: That leads to the question of larger cities. Despite having more resources, why do they lag behind in these assessments?
Francisco: Large urban centers like Bogotá or Medellín certainly have more infrastructure and funding, but they also face challenges, such as overcrowding in schools and a broader variance in educational quality across institutions. When resources are spread thin, it can lead to disparities in academic achievement. The accountability and pressure to perform may not be as pronounced in larger settings compared to these smaller, high-achieving municipalities.
Rebecca: Very insightful! Looking ahead, what trends do you anticipate for the upcoming years as more results are released?
Francisco: Based on historical patterns, I expect to see these smaller municipalities maintaining their strong performance, while larger cities need to reevaluate their educational policies and resource allocations. The contrast may generate important discussions on how to improve educational outcomes in more urbanized regions.
Rebecca: As we gather all this information, what can educators and policymakers learn from the success of municipalities like Floridablanca and Duitama?
Francisco: It underscores the importance of commitment to educational quality, community involvement, and effective resource management. Policymakers can draw lessons from these municipalities to reform educational strategies in larger cities, emphasizing quality over quantity. Creating focused educational programs that foster high standards should be a priority.
Rebecca: Thank you, Francisco! This has been a valuable discussion that sheds light on the educational landscape in Colombia.
Francisco: Thank you for having me, Rebecca. I always appreciate the opportunity to discuss such vital topics.
End of Interview
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