Training

The general level of education in Uruguay is among the highest in Latin America. School compulsory school rules apply from the age of four and include 14 years, two of which are in preschool.

School duty was extended in 2008, with a preschool year and three years of high school, and now belongs to the longer in the world.

Virtually all children attend preschool and the first six primary school years. However, although it is formally compulsory to continue in school, every fourth student falls from year 7 to 9, corresponding to high school, and just under half complete high school.

• COUNTRYAAH: Country facts of Uruguay, including geography profile, population statistics, and business data.

In high school, students choose one of three specializations: a general, a technical or a vocational. A similar division is found in the upper secondary school.

The proportion of students attending classes is also higher than the average in the region. According to the OECD, 38 percent of all 15-year-olds had passed at least one class in 2015, which means that many students are over-age. In high school, over half of the students are older than they “should” be.

Relatively speaking, Uruguay’s school results have deteriorated over a number of years and the proportion of young people who never take high school graduation is among the highest in the region.

All education, even at university level, is free of charge.

Uruguay was the first in the world to invest in all students in the state compulsory school to have their own laptop. The goal would have been achieved in 2009 and 2013 the millionth computer was distributed. Virtually all schools also have internet access. One purpose of the initiative is to equalize social and economic gaps in society. Critics, however, point out that no improvements in school results have been revealed.

A state university, Universidad de la República, was founded in 1849 and has up to 100,000 students. Since 2014 there is also a state technical university, Universidad Tecnológica. In addition, there are several private colleges and universities.

• Educationvv: Provides school and education information in Uruguay, covering middle school, high school and college education.

FACTS – EDUCATION

Proportion of children starting primary school

98.0 percent (2016)

Number of pupils per teacher in primary school

11 (2016)

Reading and writing skills

98.6 percent (2016)

Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP

14.9 percent (2011)

Public expenditure on education as a percentage of the state budget

14.9 percent (2011)