The first record of a public body for the administration of education dates from 26 February 1848 with the creation of the Institute of Public Instruction. This institute had executive, technical, and administrative powers. A year later, the
University of the Republic was founded, which had among its missions, teaching at all levels, a fact that was never put into practice. In 1891, a
cabinet reshuffle was made, becoming the newly created Ministry of Development responsible for the administration of
public education. On 12 March 1907, then President
Claudio Williman made a new
cabinet reshuffle, dividing the Ministry of Development into the "Ministry of Public Works" on the one hand and the Ministers of Industry, Work and Public Instruction on the other. In the second presidency of
José Batlle y Ordóñez another cabinet reshuffle of the ministries takes place, so on 4 March 1912 the Ministry of Justice and Public Instruction is constituted. Subsequently, on 19 March 1936 the then de facto president
Gabriel Terra called him Ministry of Public Instruction and Social Prevision. In 1967 it receives a new denomination, it began to be called Ministry of Culture, but finally in 1970 it obtained the current denomination of Ministry of Education and Culture. Source: == List of ministers of education and culture ==