Peruvian Congress Approves Controversial Waiver of Degree Requirements for Thousands of University Professors
A recent decision by the Peruvian Congress allows over 3,000 university professors without master’s or doctoral degrees to continue teaching, sparking debate over academic standards and university quality. The move, approved on December 3rd, effectively creates a two-tiered system within the nation’s higher education landscape, benefiting those who began their careers under previous regulations.
The origins of this debate trace back to the University Law enacted in July 2014. Article 82 of the law stipulated that professors teaching undergraduate courses must hold a master’s degree, while those teaching postgraduate courses require a doctorate. A five-year grace period was initially established, beginning in July 2014, to allow existing faculty to comply. However, a ruling by the Constitutional Court (TC) shifted the start date to November 2015, extending the deadline.
Despite multiple extensions – the last of which expired this month – approximately 20% of professors at public universities remained non-compliant as of November 2020. Rather than enforce the existing requirements, the Plenary Session of Congress opted to incorporate an exceptional provision into the University Law, making advanced degrees optional for professors who were already teaching prior to the current law’s implementation. This exemption does not apply to those hired after July 2014. Furthermore, these professors are now exempt from needing the degrees for career advancement.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters. “This is a mockery for the teachers who did comply with the requirement; especially for those from private universities,” stated a senior education official, highlighting the perceived inequity of the situation. The official pointed to universities like San Marcos, Villarreal, UNI, and Gonzaga de Ica as institutions with a significant number of professors who do not meet the current academic standards. “In practice, Congress is eliminating the obligation to have master’s degrees and doctorates for this group of professors and that is the responsibility of the unions and federations of teachers who are not committed to university quality,” they added.
Concerns extend beyond academic qualifications. Experts suggest that public universities are facing a management crisis, not a budgetary one, leading to a decline in student enrollment as students increasingly opt for private institutions offering higher quality instruction and resources. Notably, Sunedu, Peru’s national accreditation body, was not consulted prior to the congressional decision.
Legislators defending the move emphasize the rights of long-serving educators. According to legislator Guido Bellido, author of one of the bills, imposing new requirements on professors nearing retirement disregards their established labor rights. Segundo Montalvo, president of the Education Commission and a co-proponent of the legislation, argued that many of these professors possess extensive, recognized academic careers despite lacking formal degrees.
However, former Minister of Education Idel Vexler expressed regret over the elimination of the degree requirement for veteran professors. “There cannot be a differentiation. There cannot be a majority group of professors who do have master’s degrees and doctorates and another small group who do not. The appropriate thing should have been to extend it for a while longer,” Vexler stated. He also predicted that President José Jerí is unlikely to veto the legislation, viewing it as a strategic maneuver to secure votes during the current electoral campaign.
The long-term implications of this decision remain to be seen, but it undoubtedly introduces a complex dynamic into Peru’s higher education system, raising questions about the future of academic standards and the quality of university education.
