The Education System in Ecuador

Formal education is categorized into 4 levels: a preprimary, primary, secondary school and higher education. A preprimary school is not mandatory education for those 2 to 6 years of age. Education is compulsory and free for children ages from 6 to 14, though families deal with additional charges suchlike fees and transportation costs. The private schools operate almost 20% of the primary and secondary schools. Students who attended private school compose nearly 20% in the primary education and more than 40% in secondary level. The public outlay on education was likely at 3.2% of GDP in 1995. In 2000, the literacy rate of above 15 years of age is 8.1%. The Ministry of Education mandates all the educational programs except for higher education which is administered by a national technical council.

Ecuador has at least 61 universities. It country has 61 universities, several of which offer graduate levels. Around 300 higher institutions provide 2-3 years of technical training. The 3 catholic universities in the country are The National Polytechnical School (Quito), Polytechnical School of Littoral (Guayaquil), and Universidad Catolica de Cuenca (Cuenca). Some of the universities in the country include Universidad Técnica de Ambato (located in Ambato), Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (located in Latacunga), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (settled in Loja), Universidad Internacional SEK, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (settled in Portoviejo), Universidad Ecotec (situated in Guayaquil), and Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo (located in Riobamba).