“This is not the generation that will see the public university die”. With this statement disseminated through various media, Colombian university students are trying to call the attention of the national government as they demand that the bill to reform higher education Law 30 [1] be revoked. The students argue that the reform would privatize public universities, and have emphasized they will not start academic activities – which were stopped two weeks ago [2] – until the government withdraws the bill from Congress.
The government has been persistent on its position through the Minister of Education, stating that the reform benefits the interests of the Colombian people. It recently launched a television campaign which seeks to persuade Colombians to accept such reform.
The campaign triggered a video response by Representative Angela Robledo which is still circulating on the Internet. In the video Robledo analyzes the campaign and argues that Law 30 is an undemocratic project that lacks legitimacy. She also emphasizes the lack of investment in education because the money is being diverted to war and mining. At the end Robledo calls on the Minister and the government to withdraw the project and consult with students to reach the best higher education reform.
However, college students are still not attending classes and continue with mobilizations [3] in various [4] [es] parts of Colombia. The students accomplished to set up a meeting with the government for Monday October 31 [5] [es] to evaluate the current draft of the amendment to Law 30. Nevertheless, Internet demonstrations are still present with new accounts on Facebook [6] and other publications on social networks.
The blog El Salmón has published various [7] [es] entries [8] [es] on the subject. In “Kisses and Hugs at Tolima University” [9] [es] this blogger says:
La Lucha Universitaria contra la corrupción en la UT y contra la Ley 30, no sólo incluye luchar contra la universidad-empresa, aquella que hace uso de la educación para lucro económico de los inversionistas, sino que también reclama al Estado el aumento de presupuesto en la inversión social (salud, vivienda, cultura, deporte y educación).
Magazine Hekatombe [10] [es] publishes the words of the Minister of Education regarding the student strike:
Cuando se completan casi dos semanas de paro estudiantil en las universidades públicas del país, en protesta contra la reforma a la Ley 30, la ministra de Educación, María Fernanda Campo, aseguró que la posibilidad de que se cancele el semestre académico depende de los directivos de cada institución.
Netizens are sharing reactions on Twitter with #Ley30 [11] ,”paro universitario [12]” (“university strike”), #NoReformaLey30 [13] and #NoLey30 [14]:
Fabián Figueroa (@fafv) reports [15] that the University of Pamplona also joined the university strike:
¡Se une la Unipamplona al paro nacional universitario! No son vacaciones, son horas de trabajo para luchar por el futuro.
While Daniel Camilo (@DkmilOx) shows his disappointment [16] at the indifference of students from private universities:
… q rabo el leer a jóvenes universitarios q por estar estudiando en Universidades privadas piensan q la reforma a la #ley30 [17] no les afecta
Laura Barreto (@LauraBarreto) shares her perspective [18] as a student from a private university:
Con todo esto de la #Ley30 [19] me siento discriminada por estudiar en Universidad Privada.
Omar Ferrer (@OFFezt) tweeted [20] in response to a Laura Guarín (@Laliguarin):
@Laliguarin [21] Si no protesto, es porque quizás no creo que la #ley30 [22] sea tan satánica para el futuro del país. No porque sea millonario
[23]Students in Bogotá participating in a protest. Photo by Luis Gomez, Copyright Demotix (26/10/2011)
Tati Triana (@TatianaTriana) emphasizes [24] the general lack of education:
No existe universidad privada. Existe un pueblo privado de educación #NoReformaLey30 [13]!
Kristian López (@musickris) responds [26] to a tweet by the President of Colombia to lament the situation and the reform:
@JuanManSantos [27] quiero estudiar, quiero algun dia reparar los daños que ud y sus antecesores le produjeron a COLOMBIA #noreformaley30 [28]
Sebastián Jaimes (@Cbaz_Jaimhez), referring to the regional elections [29] on October 30, proposes [30] the following:
Propongo marcar en el papel Electoral: ¡NO A LA REFORMA DE LA LEY 30, QUIERO ESTUDIAR!. #NoLey30 [14]
Finally, Oscar Cuervo Ariza (@ocuervoa [31]), student of Economics, asks [31] for seriousness in the discussion of reform:
Quiero propuestas serias, discursos serios para debatir reforma a #ley30 [32], [32] ya basta de esos discursos melancolicos y politizados