A large demonstration in defense of public universities was called for this Tuesday (23), in different cities in Argentina.
The expectation is that, in the capital Buenos Aires, the protest will be attended by thousands of people, leaving from different parts of the capital and ending in front of the Casa Rosada, the Argentine presidential palace.
The demonstration is against freezing the budget of public universities for 2024, despite the annual inflation of 287.9% recorded in March.
Members of national universities across the country, teaching federations, trade unionists and even students and teachers from some private institutions will participate in the mobilization.
Government spokesman Manuel Adorni claims that the current administration made adjustments that it considered “convenient” to the budget, questioning the lack of protests last year, when there were also budget freezes.
According to the federal administration, on Monday (22) payment was made for the 70% increase in university operating budgets, in addition to an extraordinary allocation of more than 14 million pesos for university hospitals.
“This government defends public education, while reiterating the right of the Argentine people to know the destination and execution of all allocated payments,” the Ministry of Human Capital said in a statement on Monday.
In the text, the ministry also informed that the Milei government is carrying out audits and inspections of all approved expenses.
But, according to Emiliano Yacobitti, vice-rector of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), employees at public universities have lost purchasing power by 35% in the last three months.
Furthermore, the two non-retroactive increases of 70% promised by the government now represent a 31% cut in the operating budget when considering the current inflationary context.
“There is an ideological problem on the part of the government with universities, which today are one of the few things that people realize that, for what they pay in taxes, they receive a quality service”, pointed out the vice-rector, also this Monday, on the channel All News.
No lights and elevators
On April 10, the UBA Superior Council declared a “budget emergency” due to the “risk that short-term activities are at” due to the freezing of the amounts allocated to the institution this year.
According to the institution, there was a 26% reduction in the institution's budget in nominal terms and 80% in real terms for university functions, research and university hospitals, given the growth in expenses at the pace of inflation.
Electricity bills, for example, have increased by 577% since April last year. “The increase reaches 324% in the last two months alone”, highlights the institution regarding electricity expenditure.
Among the measures to address the situation, UBA determined:
- Non-use of air conditioning;
- Do not turn on lights in naturally lit rooms, offices and circulation spaces up to 30 minutes before academic activity;
- Use of elevators only for people with reduced mobility or in case of emergency — even in buildings with almost 20 floors; It is
- No use of gas heating at the university.
With these rules, public classes were held in squares or in the college halls.
The university also launched a campaign on social media to inform about the importance of training professionals from different areas at the institution.
“UBA is part of history, of your history (…) Let us take care of what works”, says the institution in a video.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
