Institución Educativa José Asunción Silva

The Colombian school integrating life and leadership skills into its curriculum to turn vulnerable students into resilient leaders

Institución Educativa José Asunción Silva, a public kindergarten, primary and secondary school in Medellín, Colombia, has implemented a reimagined teaching model that actively contributes to the development of life, leadership, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills to shape students who are academically strong and resilient. Medellín is a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges that has many students from extended or single-parent homes, often resulting in a lack of stable role models and learners being left alone for extended periods. The diverse population struggles with deep-rooted issues that include crime and violence, gender inequality, and extreme economic disparity. To transform these challenges into opportunities for personal growth, the school was determined to better educate students in a way that aligns with their context.

Through its project-based learning model, rooted in a social development pedagogy, the school’s teaching approach focuses on providing education to all students, no matter who they are or where they come from, to ensure they learn, grow socially and develop holistically throughout their “life project”. This process, driven primarily by the human-centred leadership of teaching staff, encourages teamwork and collaboration by providing access to a wide range of resources and competency tools that develop the students’ character and socio-emotional skills while ensuring they receive a strong academic grounding. By making a strong life project one of the key pillars of the model, students across all socioeconomic strata develop a deep sense of respect for each other. They are empowered to lead with tangible tools to overcome adversity and confidently make the decision to commit to self-improvement because they recognise the potential that is unleashed when they make positive life choices.

Students confidently navigate the social threats they face by recognising their self-worth, developing a sense of belonging to a group, and growing their autonomy. Virtues like resilience, collaboration, and empathy have increased by 80%, and there has been a 70% increase in the number of students who have participated in different activities and have won awards, recognitions, and scholarships. Families have become actively involved, and more student-led activities are being organised specifically to include families and community members. The institution has been honoured as one of the Exemplary Institutions in the Medellín Educational Quality Awards, and teachers are recognised at local, national and international levels. Students are often invited to present on topics like diversity at forums in other educational districts.

Through its culture of change, challenge and collaboration, combined with meaningful education experiences, Institución Educativa José Asunción Silva is transforming students into competent and resilient leaders fully equipped to tackle the complex social issues they face.