TITLE VI-LAW 115 OF 1994

1. Professional Suitability

An educator is qualified to perform their job if they meet the following conditions: Holding a degree, teaching effectively, and complying with the law.

2. Ethical Suitability

A teacher is considered suitable if they meet the following conditions: Fulfilling their duties and obligations and not engaging in misconduct.

Relationship Between Training and Teaching Practice

A teacher can only work in the field they were academically trained for. Higher education institutions certify the training received, specifying the educational level and the area of knowledge of the academic program.

1. Title Required to Practice Teaching: In the state educational service, a degree in education or a postgraduate degree in education is required.

2. Teaching in Primary Education

An education degree with an emphasis in a field of knowledge established in Article 23 of Law 115 is required.

3. Exception for Education Technologists

Those who were studying this program when the Law came into effect may practice teaching in public schools after obtaining their degree and registering in the National Teaching Scale.

1. Special Regime for State Educators

The practice of the state teaching profession shall be governed by the regulations of the special regime of the Teaching Statute and by Law 115 of 1994.

2. Benefit Regime for State Educators

This regime is established by three laws: Law 91 of 1989, Law 60 of 1993, and Law 115 of 1994.

National Teaching Scale Board

The National Teaching Scale Board will continue to operate according to the provisions of the Teaching Statute. The members of the National Teaching Scale Board are: Four representatives from the Ministry of National Education, two representatives from the teaching sector, and one representative from private school associations.

Teaching Scale Office

The teaching scale offices are part of the education departments of the respective territorial entities.

Registration in the Teaching Scale

Applications for registration submitted to the Sectional Teaching Scale Boards, according to the Teaching Statute, must be processed within a maximum period of two (2) months. If no response is given within this time, the registration is automatically approved (positive administrative silence).

Sexual Harassment

The Teaching Statute declares sexual harassment as misconduct. Anyone who commits this act will be subject to the sanctions outlined in Article 53 of Decree 2277 of 1979 and will be expelled from the teaching scale.

Delegate to the Sectional Ranking Board

The Minister of National Education will appoint a delegate for each Sectional Ranking Board, who will serve as Executive Secretary and fulfill the functions established by the National Government according to the Teaching Statute.

Role of Educational Administrators

Educators who lead, coordinate, supervise, inspect, plan, or advise are considered educational administrators.

Appointing Authority of Educational Administrators

The educational administrators of public educational institutions, including principals, directors, vice principals, coordinators, supervisors, and core directors, will be appointed by the governors in accordance with the provisions of the Teaching Statute.

Disciplinary Powers

Both school principals or directors and governors and mayors (when responsible for appointing teachers) can sanction them when there is a fault or misconduct that merits a sanction as established by Law 115 of 1994 and the Teaching Statute.

Assignment of Duties

If an educational director cannot fulfill their duties in a public educational institution, they must find a qualified person who can temporarily perform their functions in that institution until the competent authority appoints an official replacement.

Powers of the principal to sanction and grant distinctions

The principal or director in charge of the institution may grant distinctions or impose sanctions according to the institution's regulations or code of conduct.

Sabbatical Year

Each year, the 20 highest-rated public school teachers with at least 10 years of service may receive, only once, a sabbatical year of study funded by the State, according to government regulations.

Funding for Rural Land for Teachers

Public school teachers working in remote, high-risk, or mining areas will receive a special bonus and faster promotion within the ranking system, according to government regulations.

ICETEX Support

A student loan program is created for the training and specialization of public sector teachers. It will be managed by ICETEX and will operate with co-financing from the National Government and territorial entities.

Funding for Rural Land for Teachers

The National Government will create a program to help teachers purchase rural land in the areas where they work. This program will be managed through INCORA.