Education in Peru
Peru runs a Spanish-language education system with intercultural bilingual education in indigenous languages (Quechua and Aymara are also official). Literacy is relatively high, and Peru is home to the oldest officially established university in the Americas. Quality gaps between urban and rural — and Spanish-speaking and indigenous — communities remain a central challenge.
Structure & stages
The system is organized as:
- Educación InicialPre-school
- Primaria (6 years)Ages ~6–11
- Secundaria (5 years)Ending with the secondary diploma
Compulsory education & enrolment
Education is free and compulsory through primary and secondary school, beginning around age 6. The school year runs roughly March to December.
Public schools
Most students attend free public schools, including intercultural bilingual schools serving Quechua- and Aymara-speaking communities. Access and quality vary widely across the coast, highlands, and Amazon.
Private & international schools
Peru has a substantial private and religious school sector, concentrated in Lima and other cities.
Curriculum & language of instruction
The curriculum covers Spanish, mathematics, natural and social sciences, and English, with indigenous languages in intercultural bilingual schools.
Exams & qualifications
Peru does not use a single national exit exam; students complete secondary school to earn their diploma, and university admission is by entrance examination set by each institution (public universities are highly competitive).
Higher education
Higher education is anchored by the National University of San Marcos in Lima — founded in 1551 and the oldest officially established university in the Americas — and the top private Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), alongside many public and private universities. The sector is overseen by SUNEDU.
Studying in Peru from abroad
Peru is a popular destination for study-abroad and cultural study:
- Spanish immersion & heritagePeru attracts students for Spanish, archaeology, and Andean/Amazonian studies (Cusco and Lima are hubs)
- LanguageMost degree programs are taught in Spanish; proficiency is important
- PracticalitiesInternational students arrange a student visa and confirm requirements directly
Special education & support
Peru supports inclusive education, integrating students with disabilities into mainstream schools with support, alongside special provision; resources vary.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is uncommon in Peru; education is school-based, with public and private options.
Costs & funding
Public education is free. Private and religious schools and universities charge tuition; public universities are low-cost but competitive. The currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN).
Key facts for families
- LanguagesSpanish + Quechua/Aymara (intercultural bilingual education)
- StructurePrimaria (6) + Secundaria (5)
- CompulsoryPrimary and secondary, free
- University entryBy institutional entrance exams
- Higher edSan Marcos (oldest in the Americas, 1551), PUCP
- School yearMarch to December
Where to verify the details
This guide is a starting point, not the final authority. For current details: