At Primary Education children may begin kindergarden at the age of 5 or 6 and continue for one or two years until they reach the age of 7, at which time they are ready to enter the first grade of the six-year Primary Cycle of Elementary School. The Primary Education consists of grade 1 through 6. The program of study is set bye the Ministry of Education, but individual teachers have some flexibility in deciding the subject matter to cover and choosing appropiate texts.

• Párvulos (Nursery School): This is the first year of schooling for most children. The curriculum focuses on interpersonal interaction, following instructions of a teacher, early reading and language skills.

• Primaria (Elementary School): These are the first years of formal education, 1st to 6th grade. It is provided in schools were attendance is obligatory and students are placed in steadily advancing classes, in which each year a teacher will be primarily responsible for the students education and welfare during that year. The sixth grade diploma is a requirement for going on to secondary.