How to Homeschool Legally in Colombia
Nov 2, 2024
Homeschooling in Colombia involves several legal and practical considerations that families should understand before moving forward. Below is a general guide based on legal information, academic references, and support resources available in Colombia.
Is homeschooling legal in Colombia?
Education in Colombia is compulsory between the ages of five and fifteen, according to paragraph 3 of Article 67 of the National Constitution, and includes one year of preschool plus nine years of basic education. Even so, compulsory education does not necessarily mean it must happen inside formal institutions, which leaves some room for home education under certain limits.
In addition, the Colombian Constitution recognizes freedom of teaching and learning in Articles 27 and 71, and grants parents the primary right to choose the type of education for their children under Article 68. At the same time, other regulations, such as Law 115 of 1994, require minors to be enrolled in formal educational institutions, which creates legal tension for families who choose homeschooling.
Case law
So far, there is no direct high-court case law in Colombia specifically on education without school. One related point of reference is Constitutional Court ruling T-421/92, which mentioned the United States Supreme Court case Wisconsin v. Yoder, where the Amish community’s right to a different educational path was defended on religious freedom grounds. While this does not directly resolve the Colombian issue, it does provide a useful reference in the broader conversation about educational rights and alternatives.
How are studies accredited?
In Colombia, students who study outside formal school can validate their studies through specific mechanisms. Adults over 18 may validate high school through a single exam under Decree 299 of 2009. This gives students who studied at home, or who did not complete formal schooling, a path toward recognized accreditation.
For more details, the Ministry of National Education provides guidance and official processes for validating high school studies through this route.
Resources
In Colombia, several networks and groups support families who choose home education. Some of the most relevant include:
Action Research Process on Education Without School (ESE): a project of the National University of Colombia focused on education without school and other collaborative learning models.
Red En Familia: a network that supports families in Colombia who choose home education.
Social media groups
Facebook: groups such as Homeschooling Colombia offer support and exchange among families.
Legislative and legal actions
There have been legal actions and formal requests to the Ministry of Education related to education without school in Colombia. One example is the Action for Annulment of the Phrase: “Over 18 Years Old”, which questions restrictions affecting alternative education pathways. There have also been official responses to information requests about how studies completed at home may be validated.
Academic articles
Several academic and public texts discuss education without school in Colombia, including:
Press coverage
Some relevant news pieces that explore education without school in Colombia include:
Dos universidades "revolucionarias": S 42 y Unitierra
La educación sin escuela es una alternativa
Educación sin escuela, ¿el fin de los colegios?
Credits
This article is based on the OLASE report (Observatorio Latinoamericano de Aprendizajes Sin Escuela), with contributions from Diego Barrera Tenioro, Diego Poveda, Franco Iacomella, Erwin Fabian García, and Ana Paulina Maya.
For additional detail, you can review the full OLASE document here.