Colombia’s Petro Government Launches 32 Rural School Projects for 12,000 Students

The national government, through the Fondo de Financiamiento de la Infraestructura Educativa (FFIE), inaugurated new school facilities in Caparrapí, Cundinamarca, marking the start of 32 construction projects across 13 departments. The initiative, funded with over 32.7 billion Colombian pesos, aims to improve educational infrastructure in rural areas, benefiting more than 12 000 students. Projects include classrooms, kitchens and dining rooms to support the Programa de Alimentación Escolar, as well as a school‑garden program to promote sustainability and community engagement. Officials highlighted the effort as the largest investment in school infrastructure under President Gustavo Petro’s administration, intended to close the gap between urban and rural education.

The inaugural ceremony featured FFIE manager Sebastián Caballero, local educators, parents and community leaders, who expressed satisfaction with the upgraded facilities and the broader goals of enhancing learning environments and food security in historically underserved regions.