Perceptions of principals and teachers from public educational institutions about the implementation of the pilot project Bogotá Bilingüe

Since 2004 the Colombian State has presented a series of projects aimed at improving English learning processes and the training of teachers and students at all levels of the education system. In doing so, the Colombian State seeks to comply with current international standards for teaching English. It is against this background that programs such as the “National Bilingual Program” (2004-2010), the “Program for the Strengthening of the Development of Competences in Foreign Languages” 2010-2014” and the “National English Program” (2015-2025) have managed to establish themselves as key projects whose goal is to further both the quality of education and the teaching and learning of foreign languages. With regards to English as a foreign language, the Education Secretariat for Bogotá launched the program known as “Bilingual Bogotá”  through the implementation of pilot projects in eight schools in 2006. The Program is based on the guidelines set by the Colombian Education Ministry in its “National Bilingual Program”. This article is part of a study in bilingualism funded by the University of La Salle. The study took educational research as its frame of reference and adopted an explanatory and descriptive research standpoint. As a result of the concepts and opinions of principals, coordinators and teachers from five public schools, the article offers a description and analysis of three different aspects regarding the implementation of the projects: backgrounds, resources and external support, and expectations. Finally, some recommendations are provided in order to help achieve educational goals and curriculum objectives in terms of bilingual education in the city.