This document is the third of four publications in the series “The Road to Educational Inclusion: Four Steps to Develop Systems to Protect Educational Pathways”. This series aims to serve as a
guide for education ministries and secretariats in the region that are interested in designing and implementing protection systems for educational pathways.
In Colombia, women represent 65% of the teacher workforce but only 34% of school principals, reflecting a significant gender gap in leadership. This study examines two centralized principal selection processes implemented by Colombias National Civil Service Commission: the 2016 nationwide process and the 2018 process targeting disadvantaged PDET regions (Development Programs with a Territorial Focus). Both processes evaluated candidates through standardized tests, minimum requirements, and assessments of education and experience, determining eligibility for leadership vacancies.
By Emma Naslund-Hadley
Imagine an invention from nearly 100 years ago, from the time when my grandmother was young, that could help solve a problem faced by girls today. This is the story of how we combined three innovations from different eras: television (1926), chatbots (1963), and WhatsApp (2009), to address a crucial challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean: the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The Problem: Underrepresentation of Girls in STEM
Imagine a classroom where each student receives personalized attention. A school where teaching adapts to the pace and needs of each individual. An educational space where artificial intelligence enhances creativity and learning for all students.
The transition to a green economy is creating new jobs, and training workers to seize these opportunities is essential. In Colombia, the Inter-American Development Bank, in partnership with the Climate Investment Fund, is implementing a train-the-trainer program in two key sectors: renewable energy and sustainable and ethnic tourism. This program, developed by the National Learning Service of Colombia (SENA, by its initials in Spanish) with support from the Colombian-German Chamber of Commerce, aims to prepare instructors to pass on this knowledge to their communities.