Bilingual Intercultural Education in Ayacucho: Between cultural recognition and decolonial thought

Abstract

Bilingual Intercultural Education (BIE) in the Ayacucho region represents both a challenge and an opportunity to rethink the philosophical, pedagogical, and political foundations of the Peruvian educational system. This editorial offers a critical reflection on BIE from a decolonial perspective, emphasizing the central role of Quechua as both a language and a worldview. It argues that BIE must go beyond linguistic translation to become a project of epistemic justice, recognizing Andean knowledge systems as legitimate and necessary in the school setting. The editorial also discusses challenges related to curriculum, teacher training, evaluation, and public policy, highlighting the need for a critical intercultural approach that fosters symmetrical dialogue between knowledge systems. BIE in Ayacucho is not merely a pedagogical issue—it is a path toward plurinational citizenship and truly democratic education.