INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
Universidad (University)
Instituto Superior
Instituto Técnico Superior
Instituto de Formación Docente (Teacher Training College)
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Bachillerato
Técnico Superior
Licenciatura
Especializacion
Maestría
Doctorado
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Pre-Elementary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Initial
Length of program in years: 1
Age level from: 5
Basic
Type of school providing this education: Educación Escolar Básica (EEB)
Length of program in years: 9
Age level from: 6 to: 14
Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Media
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Bachillerato
Professional
Type of school providing this education: Formación Profesional Media
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 17
School education:
Basic education (Educación Escolar Básica) is free and compulsory and lasts for nine years, divided into three cycles of three years each. Secondary education lasts for three years and is divided into general and professional studies. In addition to the secondary leaving diploma, an entrance examination is necessary to enter universities.
Higher education:
Higher education is provided by universities, both public and private, teacher training institutions and other professional non-university level institutions. The Ministry of Education and Culture is in charge of the implementation of the law on education. The Consejo Nacional de Educación y Cultura proposes higher education policies. The Consejo de Universidades evaluates universities and gives them the approval to function. All public and private universities are created by law.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Law No 1264 "General de Educacion" Year: 1998
Concerns: Education system
Decree: Law No 136 " de Universidades" Year: 1993
Concerns: Universities
Academic year:
Classes from: Mar to: Nov
Languages of instruction: Spanish, Guarani
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level: Título de Técnico Superior:
The professional title of Técnico Superior gives access to higher studies and the exercise of a profession. It is not an academic degree. Studies are mainly offered at Institutos de Formación Professional del Tercer Nivel but also at Institutos Superiores and Universities.
University level studies:
University level first stage: Título de Grado: Licenciado, Professional Title:
The Licenciatura or professional title is usually conferred after four to six years' study (Medicine, Engineering, Law).
University level second stage: Título de Postgrado: Especialista, Magister, Doctor:
These titles are awarded by Universities and Institutos Superiores after completion of the Licenciatura. The Curso de especialización aims at professional habilitation, the Maestría at deeper knowledge of the field studied, the Doctorado at training researchers.
Teacher education:
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Basic school teachers are trained in four years in teacher training institutes (Institutos de Formación Docente). Studies lead to the title of Profesor de la Educación Escolar Básica. Since 1995, students must sit for a national entrance examination.
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers follow a four-year course leading to the qualification of Profesor de Enseñanza Secundaria. They are trained at the Institutos de Formación Docente and must sit for an entrance examination.
Training of higher education teachers
University lecturers must complete special courses for one semester at the Instituto Superior de Educación. They fall into the following categories: profesor titular; profesor adjunto; profesor asistente.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministerio de Educación y Cultura (Ministry of Education and Culture)
Head: Blanca Ovelar de Duarte, Minister
Administrative officer: Marta Lafuente, Vice-Minister
Chile 849
Asunción
Paraguay
Tel: +595 (21) 450 014/5
Fax: +595 (21) 450 014/5
EMail: vicedu@mec.gov.py
WWW: http://www.mec.gov.py
Dirección General de Educación Superior (Directorate of Higher Education)
Head: Osvaldo Luis Barresi Villalba, Director General
Paraguari
No 758 entre F.R. Moreno y Herrera
Asunción
Paraguay
Fax: +595 (21) 498 716/ 493 984
EMail: directorgeneral@mec.gov.py
WWW: http://educacionsuperior.mec.gov.py
Consejo Nacional de Educación y Cultura (National Council for Education and Culture)
Head: Domingo Rivarola, Executive secretary
Asunción
Paraguay
Consejo de Universidades
Head: Roberto Elías Canese, President
Asunción
Paraguay
Agencia Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación de la Educación Superior (Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Agency)
Head: Carmen Quintana de Horack, President
Ministerio
de Educación y Cultura
Asunción
Paraguay
EMail: aneaes@telesurf.com.py
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher education studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Bachillerato
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Bachillerato
Entrance exams required: Examen de ingreso to enter most universities.
Recognition of studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Universidad Nacional de Asunción
STUDENT LIFE
Student expenses and financial aid
Student costs:
Home students tuition fees: Maximum: 3400000 (Guaranie)
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
Dirección de Cooperación Internacional, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura
Head: Julia Maciel González, Director
Edificio
Sudamérica, Piso 3
Iturbe n° 891 calle Manuel Dominguez
Paraguay
Tel: +595 (21) 550 855
EMail: dci@mec.gov.py
WWW: http://www.mec.gov.py
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: 1-5 (new) or 0-10 (old). 5 (10) sobresaliente; 4 (9,8) muy bueno; 3 (7,6) bueno; 2 (5,4) suficiente, regular; 1 (3,2,1) aceptable, no aprobado, aplazado; 0 insuficiente (only in cases of cheating).
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level: 1
Lowest on scale: 0
Main grading system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: 1-5; 5 sobresaliente; 4 distinguido; 3 bueno; 2 regular; 1 reprobado.
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level: 1
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2004-2005
Source: IBE website, 2001; IESALC/UNESCO report "Diagnostico de los titulos de la educacion superior en Latinoamérica y El Caribe: Situacion en Paraguay" and Ministry Website, 2005