Two days before the university mobilization Against the veto of the financing law, the Ministry of Human Capital launched a harsh statement where the Government’s position was outlined and they highlighted: “The march is political”.
“This university conflict responds more to political interests than to the needs of the educational systembecause the educational complaints are all attended to and resolved,” they indicated in the text issued from the portfolio in charge of Sandra Pettovello under the title “We are in favor of university education”.
In the four-page document, which includes education policies, the ministry indicated that “it is urgent to prioritize education over political confrontations” and noted that the Government “is up to date and pays for teachers to be in the classrooms, guaranteeing that students do not continue to be victims of this unjustified situation.”
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“The Ministry of Human Capital reports that public university education was never defunded“, the text highlighted and clarified: “The Government’s commitment to the public university has remained firm; Clarity was simply required in the management of the resources that were transferred“.
Without mentioning the possible presidential veto of the law approved in Congress, the statement detailed that “from the ministry, More than 192 billion pesos have been allocated, complying with the agreement for increases in operating expenses (an increase of 270%)”.
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“Appropriations have been allocated for the operation of university hospitals and salary increases above the guidelines of the national State. The proposal that will be presented to the unions on Monday aligns the remunerations of the university system with the National Public Employment System (SINEP). Everything requested was granted“they added.
Along these lines, the ministry indicated that “full-time teachers earn around $1.4 million per month,” while “non-teachers with seniority earn around $1 million.” “Both salaries are well above the Total Basic Basket (CBT) of $300,000 for an equivalent adult”they remarked.
“This means that there is no poverty among these sectors”they maintained and detailed: “Those who receive the lowest salaries are single-time teachers, who teach only once a week, and some non-teachers in initial categories. The data is available and must be presented with transparency to clarify this situation. “.
From the portfolio in charge of Pettovello they rejected “that the recent demonstrations and strikes respond to a true need for educational financing” and expressed: “The march is political and does not reflect a defunding of the university or harm to students”.
“Everything has been transferred in record time, always prioritizing the improvement of the educational system. It is essential that citizens understand that the strikes respond to political decisions and not to a genuine deficit of resources. The education of thousands of students is interrupted by this political decision, without justified reasons. The only reason for this march to Congress is political“, they concluded.
Context: joint negotiations and lack of audits
In another section of the text, the ministry clarified that “Public universities have decided to reject a proposal for an additional 6.8% salary increase” for October, equivalent to $17 billion monthly and $56 billion accumulated until the end of the year, which “directly impacts the educational system.”
Subsequently, they listed a series of reasons why a university march was called for this Wednesday, October 2. In principle, they reiterated the rejection of the offered increase and they pointed out a “inefficient management of funds”indicating that “they received 192 billion pesos for operating expenses” and that “even so, the funds have been diverted towards non-priority expenses.”
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From the Human Capital portfolio they also claimed that universities “they do not allow themselves to be audited” and they assured that “they have not been adequately accounted for.” Then they pointed to “cost of foreign students”pointing out that “it generates an additional burden for the public university system.”
Another point mentioned by the Government was the “academic irregularities”alleging that for 38.4% of the students “there is no clear information about their academic activity”, the “equity in the educational system”alleging that public universities “reflect profound social disparities”, and, in closing, they highlighted the “fast and efficient transfers”ensuring that this “guarantees the smooth functioning of the educational system.”
AS/LT
2024-10-01 10:16:25