This New School Programme was launched by the Government of Colombia in 1975 to counter the high drop-out rates and low quality of education in traditional schools. An active and flexible methodology is applied, which concentrates not only on academic knowledge but also on the pupils' self esteem, co-operation and solidarity. By aiming at strengthening links with the community, the programme is taking into account the specific needs of peasant children, allowing for absences, for instance during harvest time.

on this subject: La Escuela Nueva en Colombia: site officiel