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Elementary education is free and compulsory for five years. Much effort has been devoted to eliminating illiteracy, and by the early 1990s nearly 87 percent of all Colombians over age 15 could read and write. Courses in Roman Catholicism are compulsory in all public schools, most of which are controlled by the Roman Catholic church. Protestant churches maintain a number of schools, chiefly in Bogotá. The national government finances secondary- and university-level schools and maintains primary schools in municipalities and departments that cannot afford to do so. In the early 1990s about 4.3 million pupils annually attended primary schools; some 2.4 million students attended secondary schools, including vocational and teacher-training institutions. In the late 1980s Colombia had some 235 institutions of higher education, with a total enrollment of nearly 475,000. Among the largest universities are the National University of Colombia (1867) in Bogotá (parts of which date from the 16th century), the University of Cartagena (1827) in Cartagena, the University of Antioquía (1822) in Medellín, and the University of Nariño (1827) in Pasto. LITERACY: 87% (male 88%, female 86%) age 15
and over can read and write (1990 est.) Culture The heritage of the Spanish colonial period is more noticeably preserved in Colombia than in any other South American country, and family life and dress often still conform to traditional norms. Although Colombia is a country of many racial mixtures, its culture is diversified more by region than by ethnicity. The Native American civilization was rapidly assimilated into that of the Spanish settlers, whose language nearly all Colombians speak today. Distinguished Colombian writers include the 19th-century novelist Jorge Isaacs and, in the 20th century, poet Germán Pardó García and novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982, continues to publish vigorously while participating in myriad cultural activities. The famed historian and essayist German Arciniegas has remained an active intellectual figure into his nineties, and major Bogota publishing houses are among the more influential in Latin America. International acclaim has also come to the painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. Long a leader in Colombia's modern art movement, he achieved world recognition and high prices in international markets when 32 of his sculptures were chosen to line the Champs-Elysees during Paris's 1993 celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. Architecture and the plastic arts have thrived in recent years, as have folk arts and native crafts. Great pride is taken in Colombian education, especially at the university level. While a disproportionately large number of the country's two-score universities are located in Bogota, facilities have been growing in the provinces. Furthermore, the classic emphases on philosophy, law, and medicine have now been joined by the natural and social sciences. Technical institutes and training schools also have proliferated. Nevertheless, educational facilities at lower levels are limited. Although primary education is free, an estimated 20 percent of urban children and 40 percent of rural children do not attend school, and this pattern extends to the high school level.Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982, continues to publish vigorously while participating in myriad cultural activities. The famed historian and essayist German Arciniegas has remained an active intellectual figure into his nineties, and major Bogota publishing houses are among the more influential in Latin America. International acclaim has also come to the painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. Long a leader in Colombia's modern art movement, he achieved world recognition and high prices in international markets when 32 of his sculptures were chosen to line the Champs-Elysees during Paris's 1993 celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. Architecture and the plastic arts have thrived in recent years, as have folk arts and native crafts. Great pride is taken in Colombian education, especially at the university level. While a disproportionately large number of the country's two-score universities are located in Bogota, facilities have been growing in the provinces. Furthermore, the classic emphases on philosophy, law, and medicine have now been joined by the natural and social sciences. Technical institutes and training schools also have proliferated. Nevertheless, educational facilities at lower levels are limited. Although primary education is free, an estimated 20 percent of urban children and 40 percent of rural children do not attend school, and this pattern extends to the high school level. The National Library in Bogotá (1777) contains about 800,000 volumes; it also administers town and village libraries throughout the country. The leading museums are located in Bogotá. The National Museum contains collections relating to the Spanish conquest and the colonial period. The National Archaeological Museum exhibits utensils, stone carvings, textiles, gold works, and other materials found at sites throughout the country. The famous Gold Museum features a noted collection of pre-Columbian gold objects. For Colombian literature and music, see Latin American Literature; Latin American Music; Latin American Art and Architecture; Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture.
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