Did you know the Consejo de Educacion Secundaria wasn’t always called that? Before 2020 this building housed the Consejo de Educacion Secundaria. It was a vital part of Uruguay’s educational system. For decades it oversaw secondary education throughout the country. Think of it as the central hub for all the country’s high schools.
The Consejo’s history stretches back much further than its name suggests. Its roots lie in the late 19th century. Back then secondary education was under the University of the Republic. The number of students was relatively small. Only about 300 to 400 students attended the sole public secondary school. A rigorous entrance exam selected them. Over half of the applicants passed. The exam tested arithmetic Spanish geography and national history.
By 1911 a new building opened. This was specifically designed for the growing number of secondary school students. Two milestones followed in 1912. The government passed a law creating the first high schools or liceos in the country’s 18 capital cities. The establishment of a women’s secondary school followed. This greatly expanded access to secondary education for girls.
The Consejo de Educacion Secundaria truly came into its own in 1935. Secondary education was transferred from the University of the Republic to this new institution. The Consejo took over the management of all the country’s liceos. This was a significant step in the development of Uruguay’s educational system. It established secondary education as a separate entity with its own governing body.
The Consejo’s role continued to evolve. In 1985 it became a decentralized branch of the newly formed National Administration of Public Education. Its focus remained on the development and supervision of curricula and programs. The creation of seven regional inspections further decentralized its operations.
In 2005 a major educational reform project was undertaken. This Reformulacion 2006 aimed to modernize and improve the quality of secondary education. This involved changes to the curriculum and methods of instruction. The Consejo played a key role in implementing this reform.
Even more changes occurred. In 2020 the Consejo de Educacion Secundaria ceased to exist. It was replaced by a General Directorate of Secondary Education. Despite the name change the work of this vital institution continues to shape the lives of countless Uruguayan students. Today the legacy of the Consejo de Educacion Secundaria lives on. It lives on in the countless students whose lives it has touched. It continues in the structure that once housed its administrative offices. This building stands as a reminder of this important chapter in the history of Uruguayan education.