Editing Montevideo (section)

===Public education===
[[File:2016 Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de la República, Avenida 18 de Julio.jpg|thumb|234x234px|University of the Republic law school.]]
The [[University of the Republic (Uruguay)|University of the Republic]] is the country's largest and most important university, with a student body of 81,774, according to the census of 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universidades Uruguayas |url=http://www.uruguayy.com/uruguay-uruguay/universidades-uruguayas/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201041348/http://www.uruguayy.com/uruguay-uruguay/universidades-uruguayas/ |archive-date=1 December 2010 |access-date=22 November 2010 |publisher=Y20 Network}}</ref> It was founded on 18 July 1849 in Montevideo, where most of its buildings and facilities are still located. Its [[Rector (academia)|Rector]] is Dr. [[Rodrigo Arocena]]. The university houses 14 faculties (departments) and various institutes and schools. Many eminent Uruguayans have graduated from this university, including [[Carlos Vaz Ferreira]], [[José Luis Massera]], [[Gabriel Paternain]], [[Mario Wschebor]], [[Roman Fresnedo Siri]], [[Carlos Ott]] and [[Eladio Dieste]]

The process of founding the country's public university began on 11 June 1833 with the passage of a law proposed by Senator Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga. It called for the creation of nine academic departments; the President of the Republic would pass a decree formally creating the departments once the majority of them were in operation. In 1836, the House of General Studies was formed, housing the departments of Latin, philosophy, mathematics, theology and jurisprudence. On 27 May 1838, [[Manuel Oribe]] passed a decree establishing the Greater University of the Republic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portal de la UdelaR – Historia |url=http://www.universidad.edu.uy/renderPage/index/pageId/98#heading_761 |access-date=22 November 2010 |publisher=UdelaR |archive-date=28 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328031527/http://www.universidad.edu.uy/renderPage/index/pageId/98#heading_761 |url-status=live }}</ref> That decree had few practical effects, given the institutional instability of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay at that time.
[[File:Kindergarten kids at a public school in Montevideo, Uruguay.jpg|thumb|left|Kindergarten kids at a public school in Montevideo]]