The Council of Higher Education (CES) reduced the budget with more than USD 12 million that were destined to cover scholarships for low-income students from eight private universities in the country.
This was denounced by the institutions, through a statement issued this Monday, August 23, in which they described as a hard blow for low-income students.
In the document signed by the Pontifical Catholic University; Catolic university of santiago de guayaquil; the Private University of Loja; the Equinoctial Technological University (UTE); University of Azuay; Salesian University; Vicente Rocafuerte University; and the Catholic University of Cuenca.
In this sense, the Higher Education Institutions explained that this budget has been reduced from 10%, from a source fed by a part of VAT, in 2011, to 3% last year and finally to 0% on August 18 from 2021.
In this way, the universities reported that they will no longer be able to offer all the scholarships that students need and ask for.
At the same time, they denounced the lack of concern and attention on the part of CES and also the Secretary of Higher Education (SENESCYT).
“Both institutions have turned the” expansion of access to higher education “into an empty phrase, which fits well in the speeches, but does not inspire the facts,” claims the statement.
However, the universities assured that they will not leave any student behind and will comply with those who already receive scholarships even if this implies redirecting institutional resources and planned educational investments.
«Today the low-income students have lost. We will do everything possible so that, in the future, the entire university system of the country wins, ”the letter ends.
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