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There was no public education system in Spanish colonial system. The church may have operated some schools, but we have little information on the colonial period at this time. It was only after independence that the country began to address the issue of public education. We do not yet have any details on Peru's educational history. We do have some information on school uniforms. School uniforms are very widely worn in Peru. The uniforms have tended to be very basic, but commonly worn. We do not have a lot of information pn the uniforms worn. There appears to have been nation-wide regulations issued by the Ministry of Education. We do not have any actual details on those regulations which have varied over time. We note some school children photographed in Cuzco during 1935 by Martin Chambi. The children are not wearing uniforms. We have no details on the school. We do note school children by the 1960s wearing uniforms. The boys wore army type khaki shirts and matching trousers. Here we see a school in the Sierra (Andes) during 1965 (figure 1). Most of the children are wearing uniforms. The teacher probably encouraged the children wear the uniforms but does not seem to have required it. Visiting Peru in the 1980s we noted many children commonly wearing school uniforms. Uniforms continue to be commonly worn in Peru in the 2000s, but there does not seem to be any one single national style. Nor were uniforms required. Peruvian Ministry of Education officials madeit clear in press statements that children could not be turned away from school for not wearing the school uniform (2008).
There was no public education system as part of the Spanish colonial system. The church may have operated some schools, but we have little information on the colonial period at this time. It was only after independence (1820s) that the country began to address the issue of public education. Politics was dominated by the conflict between conservatves and liberals. The role of the Church was at the heart of this conflict and this included whether the Church or State would control education. There were minimal efforts to develop a public school system outside the major cities. Educational was not widely available to rural and ecven poor city children. The country's large indigenous popultion in the Sierra (Andean Highands) in particular has only limited access to education. Chaotic politics and and limited economic development did not create the conditions favorable to developing a public education system. The same sitution continued into the 20th century. This did not change until democratic politics began to tale root (1940s) and free market economics reforms began to lead to substantial economic development (1970s). This was impeded by the Sendero Luninoo (Shining Path) Maoist isurection (1980s). Ironically at the sae time China went capitalist, Peruvian Maoists were trying to destroy Peru's budding capitalist economy. Economics is very strongly related to education because only contry's with a strong economy can finance an effective education system. Since that time, Periy has made remarkable economomic and educational progress. Peru adopted important education reforms (1996). The Government extended free and compulsory school education to all students aged between 5 and 16 years. There were two streams: educación básica (general stream) y técnico productiva (technical stream). Primary education is now available to almost all Peruvian children. Secondary educations is still largey aspirational, Only about a quater of the school age population is enrolled in upper secondary education. Secondary schooling is especally limited in remote parts of the Sierra and the lightly populated oriente (Amazonian rainforest).
Public education is today free and widely available through most of Peru. The availability of secondary education and the ability of families to afford to send children to secondary schools is still a problem. Private motly Catholic schools operate in all the cities. They are attended by upper- and middle-class children whose parents are not satidified with academic standards in the public schools. Peruvian law requires the private schools to follow the same national curriculum used in the public school system. This is setup federally, but overseen by local education authorities.
Peru's academic year is affected by its location in tjhe southern hemispere. It starts in March and runs through November/December. Autumn and to an extent the end of the harvest season begins in March and the summer holidays are from December to February. This is a little complicated in Peru as norther Pero is near the Equator and sasonality is no only governed by the calendar, but also elevation. Tere ae huge diffrences between the coast and Sierra. Peruvian schools also have a winter holiday (July)/ The dates vary regionlly. .
The language of instruction is an important issue in Peruvian education. Spanish is the primary language of instruction. In some primry schools in the Sierra, indigenous languages (mostly Aymará or Quechua) is used and Spanish offered as a second language.
We do have some information on school uniforms. School uniforms are very widely worn in Peru. The uniforms have tended to be very basic, but commonly worn. We do not have a lot of information pn the uniforms worn. There appears to have been nation-wide regulations issued by the Ministry of Education. We do not have any actual details on those regulations which have varied over time. We note some school children photographed in Cuzco during 1935 by Martin Chambi. The children are not wearing uniforms. We have no details on the school. We do note school children by the 1960s wearing uniforms. The boys wore army type khaki shirts and matching trousers. Here we see a school in the Sierra (Andes) during 1965 (figure 1). Most of the children are wearing uniforms. The teacher probably encouraged the children wear the uniforms but does not seem to have required it. Visiting Peru in the 1980s we noted many children commonly wearing school uniforms. Uniforms continue to be commonly worn in Peru in the 2000s, but there does not seem to be any one single national style. Nor were uniforms required. Peruvian Ministry of Education officials madeit clear in press statements that children could not be turned away from school for not wearing the school uniform (2008).
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