Colombia Education Minister targets gender ideology amid earthquake recovery

Colombia’s Minister of Education, Viviane Morales, has announced a technical review of educational materials, aiming to remove what she describes as “gender ideology” and “woke” campaigns from public schools. Morales stated that the government intends to restore traditional values and ensure that parents have greater oversight and consent regarding the sexual education and curriculum their children receive.

This policy shift occurs as the country manages the humanitarian aftermath of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10, 2026. The seismic event affected 15 departments and approximately 3,483 educational institutions, with 811 schools rendered non-functional. The Ministry is coordinating with international agencies like UNICEF and the Red Cross through the National Emergency Education Table to provide humanitarian aid, psychosocial support, and alternative learning methods, such as satellite connectivity for rural areas.

Critics have noted the tension between the Minister’s focus on ideological shifts and the urgent need to repair infrastructure and restore basic services to the thousands of affected students and families.