18 El padre educador

Educational Initiatives by Father García Herreros

Early Career and Vision

• Father García Herreros dedicated the first 20 years of his life to teaching in conciliar seminaries, emphasizing the importance of education.

• Upon arriving in Bogotá, he envisioned establishing peripheral schools in the city's neighborhoods, charging companies 200 pesos for sponsorship.

Funding Model for Schools

• The funding model allocated 50 pesos each for rent, teacher salaries (both male and female), and school supplies like boards and lights.

Establishment of Minuto de Dios School

• In 1958, with support from a Catalan benefactor named Don Fernando de Ayreflor, the first school was founded in the Minuto de Dios neighborhood.

Growth of Educational Institutions

• By 1967, the Colegio Minuto de Dios graduated its first students; it has since expanded to include multiple institutions such as Colegio Calendario A and B.

• The educational network now includes several schools across Colombia, including locations in Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Soacha, Valledupar, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Tumaco, and Villavicencio.

Expansion into Higher Education

• Father García Herreros aspired to establish a university; discussions began post-eruption of the Armero volcano with initial donations from Dutch benefactors.

• The university has grown significantly under various rectors' leadership and is now one of Colombia's largest universities with approximately 74,000 virtual students.

Current Presence and Future Plans

• The university offers both virtual courses and physical classes on Saturdays; it operates across numerous Colombian cities including Medellín and Cali.