Innovative Finance
August 1, 2024
Context
The Ministry of Education has been actively working to enhance the infrastructure and facilities of both municipal and private-subsidized schools as part of the full-day schools program (Jornada Escolar Completa, JEC). This initiative aims to ensure schools can extend teaching hours and improve their physical conditions to provide a better learning environment.
Solution
To address the existing infrastructure deficits and improve standards, the Ministry of Education launched the Strategic Plan for School Infrastructure (Plan Estratégico de Infraestructura Escolar) for 2014-2018. This plan was based on an assessment conducted between 2012 and 2014, revealing significant infrastructure gaps, particularly among municipal schools. The assessment found that around 20% of the 5,509 registered schools had precarious drinking water systems and substandard construction. The strategic plan focuses on upgrading these facilities to meet higher standards and ensure safer, more conducive learning environments for students at all educational levels, from pre-primary to upper secondary.