Breaking News: Ibagué’s Educational Revolution – New Initiatives by Minister María Isabel Peña Garzón
January 2024
Educational Infrastructure: A Top Priority
María Isabel Peña Garzón, the new Minister of Education in Ibagué, has identified three critical challenges facing the city’s education system. At the top of the list is the need for improved educational infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. With over 200 schools requiring urgent attention, Garzón is implementing the “What a father is my compadre!” initiative to sponsor and upgrade these facilities.
“We still have more than 200 venues, especially rural, which require urgent attention,” Garzón said. “Many of these campuses have physical conditions that affect the permanence and well-being of students.”
Modernizing Teaching-Learning Models
Garzón also emphasized the need to reconfigure teaching-learning models to align with the digital age. Connectivity limitations and access to technological devices remain significant hurdles, particularly in vulnerable areas. The goal is to advance both technological infrastructure and pedagogical resignification to enhance the relevance of education.
“Today more than ever, our children and young people must have access to an educational model that dialogues with the global, digital and technological reality,” Garzón stated.
Combating School Dropout
The third critical challenge is school dropout. Many students leave the education system early in search of job opportunities. Garzón highlighted the need to strengthen the articulation between secondary, technical, and higher education to make educational paths more relevant and connected to future job prospects.
“We need more flexible national policies and real dialogue tables between schools, universities, and the productive sector,” Garzón concluded.
Teacher Training and Inclusion
In addition to infrastructure and model modernization, Garzón is deeply committed to teacher training in educational inclusion. Since last year, 250 teachers have been on a training route to enhance their competencies in attending to students with disabilities.
“This is a process that has been less visible but deeply transformative,” Garzón noted.
Strengthening Initial Education
Another significant advancement is the strengthening of initial education. Traditionally, Ibagué had been working from the transition degree. Today, the city has expanded coverage with the opening of 22 complete preschools that include pre-jardin and jardin, allowing children from the age of three to begin their formative process.
“This has implied infrastructure, pedagogical endowment, and an articulated work between the Municipal Administration and the Ministry of National Education,” Garzón said.
Monthly Meetings and Higher Education Advancements
Garzón also highlighted the monthly meetings with rectors and the strategy “Encounters with the Secretary,” a permanent dialogue exercise started in January 2024. These meetings allow for evaluating progress, identifying improvement opportunities, and building joint solutions.
In higher education, Ibagué has active agreements with Uniminuto and the Cooperative University of Colombia, benefiting over 400 young people in technical, technological, and professional programs.
Looking Ahead: A More Educated and Just Ibagué
All these actions reflect a deep commitment to equity, quality, and educational dignity. Garzón’s vision is to ensure that each student counts and that every effort contributes to building a more educated, just, and human Ibagué.
“For us, each student counts, and each effort adds to build a more educated, more just and more human Ibagué,” Garzón concluded.
Stay tuned to archyde.com for more updates on Ibagué’s educational revolution and other breaking news stories. Your voice matters—join the conversation and help shape the future of education in Ibagué and beyond.
