Private school representatives in Colombia expressed concern over a Ministry of Education resolution setting enrollment and pension fees for 2027.
The dispute centers on the timing of the government's mandate. Educators argue that fixing prices this early prevents institutions from adjusting to the actual economic conditions and inflation rates that will define the upcoming academic year.
The Ministry of Education opened the draft resolution for public comment in July 2026, with the deadline for observations set for July 16, 2026 [1]. This timeline requires schools to project their financial needs and costs for 2027 significantly before the national minimum wage, a key benchmark for pricing, is determined.
"For an educational institution, it is very difficult to budget what it will charge parents next year, six months in advance, without knowing the increase in the minimum wage, without knowing the economic realities of the country," a private school representative said [2].
The debate occurs amid reports of financial instability within the sector. Some reports indicate that 800 private schools closed between 2022 and 2026 [3]. Additionally, data suggests that seven out of 10 private schools lack financial reserves for 2027 [3].
However, the Colombian government has disputed these figures. Government officials said the claim that 800 schools have closed does not correspond to reality [4].
Despite the disagreement over closure numbers, the core tension remains the lack of flexibility in the Ministry's pricing framework. School administrators said that without a mechanism to account for the country's economic evolution, the fixed tariffs may force institutions to operate at a loss or compromise educational quality.
“"For an educational institution, it is very difficult to budget what it will charge parents next year... without knowing the economic realities of the country."”
This conflict highlights a systemic tension between the Colombian government's effort to regulate education costs for parents and the operational needs of private providers. By mandating tuition rates before the annual minimum wage is set, the state creates a forecasting gap that could either lead to tuition inflation if schools over-estimate costs or institutional insolvency if they under-estimate them.
