Ecuadorian government invests 25 million dollars to expand student counseling coverage

The Ecuadorian government allocated 25 million dollars between November 2024 and May 2026 to strengthen the Departamentos de Consejería Estudiantil (Dece), which provide support and care to students in schools.

José Julio Neira, the Secretary of Public Administration, stated that this investment allowed the government to hire nearly 4,000 professionals. This addition of staff increased the national coverage of these counseling departments to 70 percent.

This represents a notable increase from previous years when the coverage for these services was below 30 percent. The government plans to hire an additional 1,000 professionals during the final quarter of 2026. This next phase aims to push the national coverage beyond 80 percent. Officials say the goal is to expand the presence of these departments across the country to reach more students.

While the government reported the increase in percentage coverage, the official did not specify exactly how many schools currently host these departments or how many students receive care. The government also did not provide a specific timeline or a map for where the new jobs will be located.