The Rector of the University of Bolivar and Chair of ASESEC Arturo Rojas argued that the public centers of higher studies began the fiscal year with an extended budget, that is, they work with funds they do not have.

In a hearing to the Education Commission of the National Assembly, Rojas warned that since last week the Ministry of Economy and Finance started a depletion of the budget ceilings, without prior notice.

Rojas regretted the USD$77 million cut, as the authority expected that at least the amount allocated by 2023 would be maintained in order to guarantee a minimum of quality.

The member party of the Citizen Revolution, Jahiren Noriega, recalled that since 2018 the cuts to universities have been systematic and it is no coincidence.

Beyond the fact that the political actors in power seek to benefit their class, the underlying problem must be named: structural adjustment policies, boosted by the International Monetary Fund and accepted by neoliberal governments, Noriega assured.

The young legislator pointed out that the debt with the Internal Revenue Service of the Noboa Group, belonging to the President’s family, is of USD$89 million and “if the Government paid, with that we would cover the resources that they want to cut to the higher education system,” she concluded.

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