INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
Universidad (University)
Centro Superior de Post-Grado (Higher Postgraduate Centre)
Instituto Superior Tecnológico (IST) (Technical Higher Institute)
Instituto Superior Pedagógico (ISP) (Higher Pedagogical Institute)
Escuela Superior (Higher School)
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa
Diploma de Aptitud Profesional
Técnico
Bachiller
Licenciatura
Profesor
Professional Title
Maestría
Doctorado
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 5
Age of exit: 16
Structure of school system:
Pre-Primary
Type of school providing this education: Educación inicial
Length of program in years: 1
Age level from: 5 to: 6
Primary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Primaria
Length of program in years: 6
Age level from: 6 to: 11
General Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Ciclo General
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 12 to: 14
Academic Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Ciclo Diversificado (Científico-Humanista y Técnico)
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 14 to: 16
Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa
Technical Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Escuela Superior de Educación Profesional
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 14 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma de Aptitud Profesional
School education:
Primary education lasts for six years and is compulsory. A year of pre-primary education is also compulsory. Secondary education covers five years divided into two cycles and, according to the constitution, is also compulsory. The first cycle covers two years of general studies and the second three years of specialization. In the second cycle, pupils choose between academic and technical branches. In the academic branch, pupils choose between Arts and Science. On successful completion of the second cycle, pupils obtain a certificado with the specialization they have followed. In the technical branch, the qualification received is the Diploma de Aptitud Profesional. Although pupils may take the university entrance examinations directly after secondary school, most follow a one-year course of study (curso preparatorio). The system of secondary education is currently being revised.
Higher education:
Higher education is provided by universities, both public and private, schools, higher institutes and postgraduate centres. Higher education is regulated by the Constitution of 1980, the General Law of Education of 1982 and the University Law of 1983. Universities are autonomous. Each has a University Assembly made up of the Rector, the Vice-Rectors, the Deans of the faculties, the Director of the graduate school and representatives from teaching and student groups. The Assembly is the ultimate authority. It elects the Rector and the Vice-Rectors. State universities are publicly funded. They are coordinated by the Asemblea Nacional de Rectores which defines the objectives of university activities, ensures their coordination and oversees their economic development. Private universities, teaching institutes and technological institutes receive subsidies. In 1995, a Consejo Nacional para la Autorización de Funcionamiento de Universidades (CONUFA) was created to oversee the creation and functioning of universities and deal with the problems of private universities. Peru is to create a university that will cater to indigineous peoples in the Northern Amazon region. It will draw on both public and private support. The institution will offer programmes in fields linked to the life of the Amazon Basin, such as forestry management and medicinal plants. The languages of instruction will include Aguarana, Ashaninka and Shipbio-Conibo. The new university will be located on the grounds of the Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: General Law of Education Year: 1982
Decree: Ley no 26439 Year: 1995
Concerns: Consejo Nacional para la Autorización de Funcionamiento de Universidades (CONAFU)
Decree: Ley Universitaria (University Law) no 23733 Year: 1983
Concerns: Universities
Academic year:
Classes from: Apr to: Dec
Languages of instruction: Spanish
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level:
Higher technical and vocational education is offered in the Institutos Superiores Tecnológicos (some 250) and the Institutos Superiores Pedagógicos (some 150), as well as in national schools for Public Health, Public Administration, the Diplomatic Academy, Academies of Fine Arts and Music. They are responsible to the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and to the relevant ministries. Post-secondary education is also offered in Institutos de Educación Técnica Superior (IETS). They all offer three-, four- or five-year training leading to the professional qualifications of Profesional, Técnico and Experto in their respective fields.
University level studies:
University level first stage: Pregrado:
The first two years at university are devoted to general studies. Access is based on a competitive entrance examination. Students need to obtain a certain number of credits to enter the faculty for their specialization. The period of specialization is three to five years and leads to the title of Bachiller. Successful submission of a thesis, which normally takes six months to a year, leads to a Licenciatura or a professional title such as Ingeniero, Médico, Abogado, Economista. This entitles holders to enter practice. Most courses leading to the Licenciatura take about five years.
University level second stage: Postgrado:
The second stage leads to the titles of Maestro and Doctor. The minimum duration of studies is four semesters in each case. Candidates must defend original research work. Maestría candidates must be proficient in one foreign language and Doctorado candidates in two. In Law and Medicine, the professional title is obtained three and five years respectively after the award of the Bachiller. Universities also confer professional titles of Segunda and Ulterior Especialización.
Teacher education:
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Primary school teachers are trained in universities and Institutos Superiores Pedagógicos (ISP) for ten academic semesters. In-service training is offered over six years, partly residential, partly through distance courses.
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers (profesores) are trained in the Institutos Superiores Pedagógicos in five years and in the universities. Studies lead to the award of the professional qualification of Profesor with mention of the educational level and specialization. Teachers in technical education are trained at the Institutos Superiores Tecnológicos for three years and they obtain the Título de Profesional técnico.
Training of higher education teachers
University teachers are trained at the higher education level by successive integration and promotion from one category to the next. They are appointed to one of the professional categories through open competitions conducted by the educational councils of each university. The time of tenure in each category and promotion to a higher level varies. A common tendency is as follows: an academic evaluation is conducted every three years for auxiliary professors, four years for associate professors and six years for principal professors.
Non-traditional studies:
Lifelong higher education
Lifelong courses are organized for businessmen and the community. A Certificado de Asistencia is awarded at the end of the course.
Higher education training in industry
Programmes in Business Administration, Commerce, Production and International Trade are offered in industry through the dual school/business system (alternate or sandwich studies). Training for industrial work is by the National Service for Industrial Training which has 35 training centres throughout Peru.u
Other forms of non-formal higher education
Part-time education is offered as daytime or evening classes in Teaching, Accountancy, Law, Computer Science and Economics. In-service courses are organized for teaching staff. Summer classes are also provided for regular students (which enable them to gain créditos) and for teaching staff who are free in January and February.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministerio de Educación (Ministry of Education)
Head: Javier Sota Nadal, Minister
Avenida
Van de Velde 160
San Borja Norte
Lima
Peru
Tel: +51(1) 215 5800/ 435 3900
Fax: +51(1) 435 3258
WWW: http://www.minedu.gob.pe/
Asemblea Nacional de Rectores (Rectors' National Assembly)
Head: Elio Ivan Rodriguez Chavez, President
Administrative officer: Rocío del Pilar Rondinel Sosa, Secretary-General
Calle
Aldabas 337, Las Gardenias, Surco
Lima 41
Peru
Tel: +51(1) 275 4608
Fax: +51(1) 275 5019
EMail: rrpp@anr.edu.pe
WWW: http://www.anr.edu.pe
Role of governing body: Coordinates university activities, oversees their economic development
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher education studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa
Entrance exams required:
Students must sit for a Concurso or Examen de Ingreso
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa
Entrance exams required: Students must sit for an Examen de Ingreso or a Concurso
Numerus clausus/restrictions: Each university fixes a numerus clausus for each faculty.
Foreign students admission
Entry regulations: Foreign students must hold a Secondary School Leaving Certificate. They may obtain scholarships and financial assistance and may be employed on campus. Foreign nationals from countries with which Peru has concluded agreements can obtain a convalidación of their studies, degrees and diplomas; when Peru has not signed such agreements they obtain the Revalidación.
Language requirements: Students must have a satisfactory command of Spanish.
Recognition of studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): The Consejo Nacional para la Autorización de Funcionamiento de Universidades (CONUFA) oversees the creation and functioning of universities and deal with the problems of accreditation of private universities.
Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales, Ministerio de Educación
Avenida Van de Velde
160
San Borja Norte
Lima
Peru
Tel: +51(1) 436-5855
Fax: +51(1) 436-1240
Telex: 25803 mesc pe
WWW: http://www.minedu.gob.pe
Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of agreement: Convention On the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean
Year of signature: 1974
STUDENT LIFE
Student expenses and financial aid
Student costs:
Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Nuevo Sol)
Maximum: 20000 (Nuevo Sol)
Bodies providing information on student financial aid:
Instituto nacional de Becas y Crédito Educativo
Calle Tiziano 387,
San Borja
Lima
Peru
Tel: +51(1) 476-0082
Fax: +51(1) 476-7777
EMail: postmast@inabec.gob.pe
WWW: http://www.inabec.gob.pe
Deals with: Grants
Instituto Peruano de Fomento educativo
Apartado postal 3685
Coronel Zegarra 758, Jesús María
Lima 100
Peru
Tel: +51(1) 471-3931
Fax: +51(1) 471-7396
Deals with: Grants and Loans
Publications on student services and financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd Edition
Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
Year of publication: 2003
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: 0-20
Highest on scale: 20
Pass/fail level: 11
Lowest on scale: 0
Main grading system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: 0-20
Highest on scale: 20
Pass/fail level: 11
Lowest on scale: 0
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2001-2002
Source: International Association of Universities (IAU), updated from IBE website, 2001 (except for governing bodies updated 2005)