Representative Santiago Castro introduced a bill to create the National Program for Economic and Financial Education in Formal Education. The initiative would make these topics mandatory in all schools across the country.
The bill establishes that economic and financial education must be a mandatory curricular component from preschool through eleventh grade. Preschool would cover basic concepts about money, while secondary school would address topics such as financial planning, savings and credit products, and basic tax education.
Castro cited data from the OECD's PISA test, where Colombia scored 379 points in financial competence, more than 120 points below the average. He also noted that 40.5% of Colombians cannot calculate compound interest and 60.3% cannot identify loss of purchasing power due to inflation.
If approved, the Ministry of Education would define guidelines and content. In-service teachers would participate in an update program so that, three years after regulation, at least 70% have received training in the subject. The bill is numbered 067 of 2026 in the House of Representatives.
