The Ministry of National Education issued this week Decree 277 of 2025, which establishes adjustments at the time of the school day, the academic allocation and the fulfillment of the working day by teachers and managers in the public schools of the country.
As noted by the educational portfolio, the document is the result of the dialogues and agreements reached in the framework of the Permanent Board between the Ministry of Education and the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (FECODE). Seeks to strengthen the teaching role “beyond the classroom, guaranteeing a balance between teaching time and complementary activities that contribute to educational quality ”.
Among the changes that the regulations include is the inclusion of preschool as an educational level and the time of academic assignment for children’s care.
In relation to the schedules of the school day, the decree establishes that the 40 -teaching weeks are still maintained per year, which will be set in the academic calendar.
Similarly, the minimum hourly intensity, according to the educational level, as follows:
- 20 hours a week for preschool. In the previous decree, an intensity for this educational level was not established.
- The intensity of 25 hours for primary basic and 30 for secondary and middle basic.
- 37 hours for the technical average levelbeing this other novelty in this modifying decree, by incorporating this academic level.
In addition, the Ministry established that the school day must include a “student pedagogical rest space”, in which the educational establishment will allocate five minutes within each class of 60 minutes with the objective of “promoting students’ well -being and strengthening the pedagogical relationship”.
Teachers’ Day
In front of the workday of the teachers, the document indicates that Educators must turn eight daily working hours distributed as follows:
- Six hours of continuous permanence in the educational establishment dedicated to compliance with its academic allocation and the execution of complementary curricular activities.
- Two hours for complementary and proper curricular activities that will be developed autonomously according to each educator.
Another change that includes the regulations, according to the Ministry of Education, is that in the case of guiding teachers and pedagogical support its permanence is also modified in the educational establishment, which was set at least eight hours a day.
Now, they are accepted “to the distribution of six continuous hours in the institution and two hours to carry out activities of the position autonomously and agreed with the rector or director.”
“As for the teaching, rectors and coordinators of educational establishments, it is ratified that these will distribute their permanence in the days or physical plants in their chargein such a way that they dedicate eight (8) hours a day to fulfill their functions in the educational establishment or in compliance with those of the directive nature of their position, ”he added.
The educational portfolio said that against the time of academic allocation that the teacher dedicates to the direct care of his students, the decree differentiates the amount of weekly hours that must be used for each educational level. They are 20 hours for preschool (this level is incorporated)25 hours for primary basic and 22 hours for secondary and middle basic. Previously, this time was unified in 22 hours for all levels.
“Finally, it is clarified that this new decree aims to harmonize the school and work day of teachers and teaching managers in state educational establishments, and will not affect in any way the provision of the educational service,” said the ministry.
