This research presents the theoretical bases, methodology and results of the thesis developed by the authors during the course of the Masters in Education from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, during the years 2011-2013, in which we analyze the discourse of competencies, in the context of education policies in the period 1990-2010. To accomplish the research objectives, this investigation makes a theoretical problematization of different aspects of education policy, especially on issues related to competencies training, as well as governmental devices which are deployed in the discourse of the indicated time period.