Gustavo Petro's Education and Culture Reforms Reviewed

During his 2022‑2026 presidency, Gustavo Petro placed education at the core of his social transformation agenda. The government increased public higher‑education financing and kept tuition free for low‑income students, stabilising state universities and expanding access for vulnerable youth. However, the historic debt of public universities continued to rise, the promised overhaul of the student loan agency ICETEX stalled, and the target of 500,000 new university seats fell short. Major legal reforms to the education system failed to secure congressional support, leaving many initiatives blocked.

Petro also pledged to treat culture as a fundamental right. Minister of Culture Yannai Kadamani drafted a reform of the General Culture Law, aiming to modernise the sector, but the proposal collapsed before its final debate in Congress. The cultural policy shift from a development‑oriented “orange economy” to a rights‑based approach remained largely unimplemented, leaving the next administration to inherit unfinished reforms.