Ecuador's Sierra and Amazon regions prepare for 2026-2027 school year

Ecuador's Sierra and Amazon regions are preparing for the 2026-2027 academic year, with over 1.7 million students set to return to classrooms. The Ministry of Education has announced a staggered return to public schools, beginning September 1, 2026, to ensure an orderly start to the new term.

The schedule begins on September 1 with Bachillerato (grades 10-12) and initial education for 3 and 4-year-olds. The following day, September 2, will see the return of students in Educación General Básica Superior (grades 8-10) and Preparatoria (1st grade). Finally, on September 3, students in Educación General Básica Media (grades 5-7) and Básica Elemental (grades 2-4) will resume classes. Private, fiscomisional, and municipal institutions have the autonomy to set their own calendars, provided they align with higher education access processes.

The current 2025-2026 academic year will officially conclude on June 26, 2026. On this date, approximately 1.58 million students from initial education through second-year Bachillerato will finish their activities. Concurrently, 116,206 third-year Bachillerato students will complete their secondary education and graduate. This academic period has adhered to the 200 working days mandated by the Organic Law of Intercultural Education.

For students needing to improve their grades, a recovery period is scheduled from June 26 to July 3, 2026. Supplementary exams, grade registration, and course board meetings to determine student promotion will take place from July 6 to July 9, 2026.

Following the end of classroom instruction, teachers will enjoy an uninterrupted 30-day break, from July 10 to August 8, 2026. Before this recess, educators will finalize critical tasks such as reviewing evaluations, grading reports, and designing plans for students with special educational needs. Teachers are scheduled to return to public educational institutions on August 11, 2026, to commence preparations for the upcoming academic year.