Peru Unveils National Education Plan 2026-2031 to Transform Schools

Infrastructure and Property Titling Overhauls

The administration’s primary objective targets severe structural deficits in public schools. According to figures released by the presidency, only 30% of schools nationwide possess simultaneous access to water, sewage systems, and electricity, while more than 26,000 educational facilities operate under risk conditions. To address these gaps, the plan commits to constructing 2,000 new schools and modernizing or remodeling another 3,000 facilities over the next five years, as stated by the administration.

Physical expansion faces administrative bottlenecks regarding the legal status of school land. Education Minister José Antonio Chang noted that pending legislative powers requested by the executive branch will allow the government to clear and legalize property titles within the five-year window, clearing the path for state investments. Among the initial beneficiaries, the José María Arguedas Educational Institution in Santa Anita, where the plan was formally launched, is slated for inclusion in the new school construction program.

Expanding Satellite Internet Coverage

Connectivity infrastructure forms a core pillar of the new strategy. The government aims to scale national school internet coverage from its current 28% baseline up to 100% by July 2027, according to presidential statements. Collaborating with Prime Minister Luis Galarreta, the administration plans to deploy satellite internet solutions to bridge connectivity gaps, ensuring that all public schools achieve full digital interoperation within the near-term timeline.

Curriculum Modernization and Daily Reading Requirements

Academic quality updates focus on streamlining core competencies. The updated national curriculum prioritizes mathematics, reading, writing, sciences, civics, values, English, financial education, and job-training modules. To reverse learning deficits identified in national and international evaluations, the administration mandated a daily hour of mandatory reading across all schools.

Minister Chang confirmed that ideological content will be removed from the study plans to emphasize concrete data, statistics, and critical thinking. Additionally, the Ministry of Education plans to reissue instructional guides for parents to improve domestic oversight of student progress.

Teacher Standards and Career Path Modifications

The reform introduces stricter entry criteria for the Public Teaching Career (Carrera Pública Magisterial). Candidates must secure a minimum score of 14 on both national examinations and decentralized evaluations. Furthermore, applicants must hold a valid degree from a licensed university or pedagogical higher education school and have completed an accredited education program.

Teacher evaluations are designed to support professional development rather than penalize staff, according to executive assurances. Concurrently, the state plans to roll out progressive distributions of school supply kits—including uniforms, footwear, and notebooks—targeting 1.2 million students in lower-income quintiles.

Workforce Training and Administrative Autonomy

The administration seeks to align secondary education directly with labor market demands by expanding technical courses during the fourth and fifth years of high school. Plans also involve modernizing the Centros de Educación Técnico-Productiva (Cetpros) and aligning scholarship distribution with national production priorities.

To overhaul institutional management, the state will establish a National School of Directors (Escuela Nacional de Directores). This specialized academy aims to train principals to step beyond administrative duties and actively lead academic communities, supported by a dedicated budget coordinated alongside the Ministry of Economy and Finance.