The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petrosigned a decree regulating the new free policy ‘University on your territory’ to access higher education in his country.

“With the expansion of free access and the relaxation of requirements to enter the higher education system, we an important step towards the consolidation of education as a fundamental right” Education Minister Aurora Vergara said in a statement from her office on Saturday.

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He added that the idea is that all Colombians “Having the opportunity to access quality education that allows them to live a life of dignity, in conditions of equality.”

This new policy, which will be implemented in the first half of next year, has as its main novelties the flexibility of requirements such as socio-economic stratum, age, nationality and the prioritization of indigenous populations; Rrom; black communities; Afro-Colombian; raizales and palenqueras; victims of the conflict; in a disabled condition; farming communities, or deprived of their freedom.

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The Ministry of Education will also provide guidance an executive council that oversees this policy, composed of representatives of the government and educational institutionsbut also by students, who must approve operational regulations and resource forecasts.

They will have to do that too “decide on special requests, ensure efficient management of resources and promote actions for financial sustainability”the ministry said.

The initiative will be financed from the nation’s general budget and the ministry will transfer “the resources necessary to cover the net ordinary enrollment of the beneficiaries” to educational institutions, the added information said. (JO)