José Olaya

Peruvian educator who established the first free public school system in South America

José Olaya (1812-1884) was a visionary Peruvian educator who fundamentally transformed the nation's education system. As Minister of Public Instruction from 1855-1858, he implemented the Ley Olaya - a groundbreaking law establishing Peru's first free public school system accessible to all social classes. This legislation mandated compulsory primary education and created teacher training colleges, laying the foundation for modern education systems in Latin America. His reforms were particularly radical in a time when only 12% of Peru's population was literate. Olaya's ideas influenced later educators like Simón Bolívar and his pedagogical theories are still studied at the Escuela Nacional de Educación in Lima. The José Olaya National Pedagogical University continues his legacy today.