# Colombia education expansion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/colombia-education-expansion > Updated: 2026-08-03T16:03:08.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. In July 2026 Colombia reported a historic peak in university enrollment, with 2.72 million students and university‑level coverage surpassing 60 % for the first time. The surge was driven by the government’s free‑tuition policy, which now funds roughly 939 000 students and has boosted public‑university financing by more than 55 % since 2022, narrowing urban‑rural gaps. A few weeks later, in August 2026 the Education Ministry announced that nearly 50 000 people were enrolled in government‑sponsored literacy programmes. Targeting the 5 % of Colombians who remain illiterate, the effort combines formal and informal tracks, allocating over 38 billion pesos to reach participants across a wide range of departments and the Special District of Buenaventura. Together, the snapshots illustrate a broadening of Colombia’s education agenda in 2026, extending from higher‑education access to basic literacy initiatives aimed at improving overall educational attainment nationwide. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: Colombia's Education Ministry reports nearly 50,000 in literacy programs Colombia's Ministry of Education reports 49,450 participants in literacy programs, with 20.5 bn pesos for formal education (21,130 people) and 18.2 bn pesos for informal education (23,320 people) across many de 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombias-education-ministry-reports-nearly-50000-in-literacy-programs ### 2026-07-15: Colombia hits record university enrollment and expands free public higher education Colombia set a record with 2.72 million university students in 2025, coverage above 60 %, expanded free tuition to 939 000 learners, and historic public investment in higher education. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-hits-record-university-enrollment-and-expands-free-public-higher-education --- Cite as: Colombia education expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/colombia-education-expansion