Liceo 36 Instituto Batlle y Ordóñez

“A school for women?” you might ask, eyebrows raised in curiosity. Yes, right here, where the Liceo 36 Instituto Batlle y Ordóñez stands today, once echoed the dreams and aspirations of young Uruguayan women seeking higher education. Our story takes us back to 1912, when the seeds of what would become Liceo 36 were sown. Established as the Women’s Secondary Education Section of the University of the Republic, it was fondly dubbed “the Women’s University.” Imagine those early days, a time of societal change, where the pursuit of knowledge for women was a path less traveled. The institution thrived, and in 1939, a new building, designed by architect Octavio de los Campos, was inaugurated in the Aguada neighborhood. It wasn’t until 1944, however, that the institution took on the name Liceo Instituto Batlle y Ordóñez, honoring the former president and champion of education reform. Under the leadership of Alicia Goyena, director from 1944 to 1979, the Liceo flourished. The student body grew from a mere 66 to over 2000, a testament to the institution’s commitment to empowering young women. The winds of change blew again in 1979, with the dissolution of the Women’s Section and the school’s restructuring as a co-educational institution. Today, the Liceo stands as a beacon of learning for all, carrying forward its legacy of academic excellence and social progress. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and the enduring power of education to shape minds and destinies.