DEAR EDITOR:
Several voices have suggested the need to shorten university programs in recent weeks. In this regard, I propose some measures that could help:
1. Separate the bachelor's degree from the professional qualification, thereby aligning ourselves with international standards such as the ISCED.
2. Create a mandatory national bridging program upon entry to university to equalize differences in learning between schools.
3. Establish an inter-sectoral committee between the Ministry of Education and various universities to review and streamline internship processes, examinations, and thesis requirements.
4. Modify the requirements for accessing public sector jobs. A bill has already been proposed, but it only applies to the administrative statute of the central government; it should be extended to all institutions.
This should be done not only to reduce the fiscal expenditure associated with longer periods of free tuition, CAE (a type of exam), and scholarships; but also because we currently have 645,041 children aged 0 to 4 who are not enrolled in early childhood education (68% of the total). One of the major limitations observed is the lack of available spaces and flexible hours in daycare centers and kindergartens (Education Initial 2030 et al., 2025).
To address this shortage, we need resources that allow us to reinvest where evidence shows the greatest returns and reduction in inequalities: early childhood education.
Vicente Jaramillo
MPP LSE
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March 20, 2025
University Students
Photo: Andres Perez
Andres Perez Comments
MR. EDITOR:
In recent weeks, several voices have suggested the need to shorten university programs. In this regard, I propose some measures that could help:
1. Separate the bachelor's degree from the professional degree, bringing us closer to international standards, such as the ISCED.
2. Create a mandatory national leveling program upon entering university to balance differences in learning between schools.
3. Establish an intersectoral committee between the Ministry of Education and various universities to review and rationalize internship processes, exams, and theses.
4. Modify the requirements for accessing public employment. There is already a bill presented, but only for the administrative statute of the central government; it should be extended to all institutions. This must be done not only to reduce the fiscal expenditure that longer periods of free education, CAE [likely an acronym], and scholarships represent; but also because today we have 645,041 children aged 0 to 4 who are not enrolled in early childhood education (68% of the total). One of the major limitations observed is the lack of spaces and flexible hours in daycare centers and kindergartens (Early Childhood Education 2030 et al., 2025). To compensate for this lack, we need resources that allow us to reinvest where evidence shows the greatest returns and reduction of inequalities: preschool education.
Vicente Jaramillo
MPP LSE
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University programs
Leveling program