Venezuelan University Law Creates Student Bill of Rights, “Democratizes” Higher Education

[Prometheus Bound]

Source: venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuelan University Law Creates Student Bill of Rights, “Democratizes” Higher Education
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com
Dec 24, 2010

Mérida, December 24th 2010 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – As students in the United States and Europe protest against soaring tuition and lack of funding for public higher education, the Venezuelan National Assembly has passed an unprecedented law to include professors, students, workers, and local community members in university decision-making and to eliminate barriers to higher education.

The law is based on the principle that the government has the responsibility to provide free, high-quality, public education from childhood through the undergraduate university level. This principle is established in Article 103 of the nation’s constitution.

The law says students will have the right to an equal vote in the election of university authorities, evaluate professors and participate in self-evaluation, freely express opinions, access university administrative records, and receive a range of services including housing, transportation, meals, health care, and monthly stipends, among other rights.

The law also establishes a series of university councils that are to be elected on each campus through a one-person, one-vote democratic system that includes students, professors, administrators, wage workers, and other members of the university community.

Read more: http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5893

[Wilms]

1. Is it a wonder Facisits and un-restrained capitalists hate Chavez? n/t

[Prometheus Bound]

4. Yup, damn socialists just don't understand that the point of education is for business to profit.

Well, same with health care for that matter.
:sarcasm:

[social_critic]

10. Characterizing the majority of Venezuelans as Fascists is excessive

I suggest you consider that today, the majority of the Venezuelan people are not supporting the government party (PSUV). Therefore characterizing them as fascists and unrestrained capitalists seems a bit over the top. The reason why the national assembly has been passing a huge number of laws in a short period of time, just before its term ends, is precisely because they know the incoming assembly won't be as willing to please the ruling party nomenklatura.

I think these moves are a mistake, they are creating a sense that government authorities know they are no longer backed by the majority, and are trying to clamp down on potential centers where the population can orgnize and design the alternatives which would be presented to the public in the forthcoming 2012 presidential elections. And what this will accomplish is brain drain, and even less economic activity. When the country is suffering from a faltering economy, it is very inefficient to introduce a sense of insecurity in existing institutions, and the sanctity of private property, especially those who have the brains and the ability to get things done. These measures are counterproductive, and will hurt the government in the long term.

[Wilms]

12. Mischaracterizing my post is what's "excessive".

Where did I refer to the "majority of the Venezuelan people" as Fascists? :shrug:

They hold democratic elections in that country. The people have decided. And they'll continue to.

With regard to "those who have the brains and the ability to get things done", Chavez et. al. have proven themselves rather capable to the country's poor. Of course that'll incite detractors who worship at the alter of money.

[tabatha]

2. Well, that is pretty excellent.

[davidinalameda]

3. does this mean the government is going to stop shooting at protesting students

[marmar]

5. Don't worry....The Chavez haters will find a way to spin this.

nt

[UTUSN]

7. Bwah-HAH !1 No need to spin: The rights expire at the ivory tower borders!1 n/t

[COLGATE4]

6. The devil is always in the details. This paragraph should be

disturbing for those who are cheering this blurb:

Opposition marchers pointed to the part of the law that says, “university education is part of the non-alienated labor that consolidates the socialist model of production,” and the part that says autonomy includes academic freedom but also must be exercised “in accordance with the National Development Plan for the strengthening, consolidation, and defense of the sovereignty and independence of the homeland.”

"Academic freedom... must be exercised in accordance with the National Development plan for the strengthening, consolidation and defense of the soverignty and independence of the homeland". In other words, academic 'freedom' exists only insofar as the government deems it to be in accordance with the National Development Plan, i.e. transforming Venezuela into a communist (exact term used by Venezuela's Ambassador to the US several days ago on US T.V.) society. Doesn't sound much like academic freedom to me.

[Wilms]

9. Well, what is it about "defense of the soverignty and independence" that you find disturbing?

Since capitalism has worked only so well for the world's masses, it's hard for me to throw stones at a country who's leaders are democratically elected, and generally rail against capitalists.

Fact is, the average Venezuelan has had a much improved circumstance in the last decade. Start there.

[social_critic]

11. A lot of the improvement is associated with oil prices

Oil prices have increased about 6-fold in the intervening period. For a country which essentially lives from oil exports, it is natural to expect economic growth. However, today the country suffers from economic malaise, with a lower GDP per capita than say 2008 and 2009. And the trend could be made worse by moves such as this. Evidently there will be a lot of university students leaving the country if the government takes the universities over. In a sense, they are killing the country's future.

[Wilms]

13. The end of slavery in the US likely ruined the Confederate GDP.

There are other metrics.

If "students leaving the country" is your concern, you might ask how they can afford that given the poverty that required Chavez's policies to begin alleviating. To some, it would indicate the gravy train is over. Perhaps the students can move to the US, get jobs on Wall Street, and prey on pensioners and Social Security recipients.

[bemildred]

8. Awesome. nt

[Forkboy]

14. That can't be right.