# Education policy and leadership in South America

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/education-policy-and-leadership-in-south-america
> Updated: 2026-09-23T23:18:03.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3.

Educational policy and leadership developments have emerged across several South American nations. In Uruguay, discussions have focused on upcoming elections for the Governing Council of the National Administration of Public Education (ANEP). As the October 3 elections for teacher representatives to the Central Directing Council (CODICEN) approach, candidates are actively campaigning.

Limber Santos, representing List 22 and the DEMA space (Defense of Public Education) linked to the CSEU, is campaigning in Lavalleja with a platform focused on strengthening representation for teachers in the country’s interior and rural areas to address specific infrastructure and labor challenges. Conversely, List 1, led by Víctor Pizzichilo and Liliana Pereira, is advocating for quality education and professional recognition, proposing increased emotional support for staff and better resources, such as teacher lounges.

In the Lavalleja branch of the Association of Teachers of Uruguay (ADEMU), Paula Cáceres Rodríguez was previously re-elected with intentions to address teacher workload, institutional violence, and mental health. 

In Colombia, political disputes arose in the Tolima Assembly over an ordinance designed to fund higher education scholarships, with opposition members raising concerns regarding the legalities of specifying resources for private universities. Meanwhile, in Ecuador, Edgar Murillo Párraga was elected President of the Teachers' Association of the ‘Luis Arboleda Martínez’ Technical Higher Institute, aiming to increase staff participation and dialogue.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: Uruguayan educators campaign for CODICEN teacher representative elections

Uruguayan educators are campaigning for the October 3 CODICEN elections, with candidates focusing on regional representation, resource availability, and professional recognition within ANEP.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uruguayan-educators-campaign-for-codicen-teacher-representative-elections

### 2026-09-20: Teacher associations in Ecuador and Uruguay announce new leadership

Teacher associations in Ecuador and Uruguay announce new leadership, with Edgar Murillo Párraga heading the ‘Luis Arboleda Martínez’ institute and Paula Cáceres Rodríguez re-elected for ADEMU Lavalleja.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/teacher-associations-in-ecuador-and-uruguay-announce-new-leadership

### 2026-09-09: Education policy and funding debates emerge in Uruguay and Colombia

Educational policy and funding face scrutiny in Uruguay, where teacher representatives are being elected to Codicen, and in Colombia, where a scholarship ordinance is stalled in the Tolima Assembly.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/education-policy-and-funding-debates-emerge-in-uruguay-and-colombia

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Cite as: Education policy and leadership in South America. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/education-policy-and-leadership-in-south-america