Public-School Enrollment Opens for First-Time Students in Sierra–Amazonía

Enrollment for students entering Ecuador’s public-school system for the first time opened on August 12, 2026, for the 2026–2027 Sierra–Amazonía school year, according to Primicias. The process is free and is completed online through the Juntos Educación website.

The initial enrollment window runs from August 12 through August 17 using the representative’s cédula number. On August 18, enrollment can be completed with or without the identity document, according to the published schedule.

Who this applies to

The process is for students entering the public education system for the first time. Primicias describes it as the ordinary enrollment process for schools and secondary schools in the Sierra–Amazonía regime.

The Ministry of Education’s process lets families choose a school based on geographic location, the available education offer, and family preference. The article’s guidance is focused on students entering for the first time rather than on every type of transfer or re-enrollment.

The online steps

The instructions published by Primicias are:

1. Go to juntos.educacion.gob.ec.
2. Under “Niños y adolescentes,” select “Ingreso al sistema.”
3. Choose the “matrículas” option and select the Sierra–Amazonía regime.
4. Enter the system and complete the requested information about the student and geographic location.
5. Select the preferred educational institution.
6. Save and finish the process.
7. Check the registered email address for the enrollment certificate.

The process therefore depends on accurate student information, a location selection, and access to the email address used for the application. Families should keep the certificate after it arrives rather than treating the final screen as the only record.

What happens later

Extraordinary enrollment begins on September 4, 2026 and continues through January 28, 2027, according to the article. That later period is not the same as the initial ordinary-enrollment window, so families should not assume that waiting will preserve the same timing or options.

What This Means for Expats

Foreign families moving to the Sierra or Amazonía should first confirm whether their child is entering Ecuador’s public system for the first time and whether the child belongs in the Sierra–Amazonía school calendar. The process described by Primicias is a government enrollment route, not a private-school admissions process.

The practical approach is to use the official website, enter the student’s location carefully, choose from the institutions shown, and save the certificate sent to the registered email. The article does not provide a separate English-language process or explain every document that a foreign family might need beyond the representative’s cédula number during the first window. Families with an unusual immigration or documentation situation should confirm the requirement with the Ministry before assuming the online application will accept it.

Source: Primicias

Because the process is online, timing matters more than a general intention to enroll. Families should treat the published window as an administrative deadline, confirm each screen before leaving the application, and retain the certificate sent by email. Those are practical safeguards, not additional Ministry requirements.