Market and state do battle over higher education law

“Education cannot be regulated by the market,” declared Peru’s President Ollanta Humala following the approval of the ‘University Law’ which ushers in some of the most sweeping changes that Peruvian higher education has ever seen, writes Simon Wilson for Latin Correspondent.

The law passed last year establishes a statutory framework for the first time and obliges university teaching faculty to possess at least a postgraduate degree (such as a masters), have a roster of permanent lecturers and requires the award of bachelor degrees to be dependent on completion of an investigative thesis or professional development. The ruling also attempts to prevent private universities becoming piggy banks for their owners and management by subjecting them to a stricter tax regime.

The controversial ruling has not passed without resistance, however, as evidenced by recent violent confrontations at various institutions across Peru. It has even been accused of turning education into no more than “merchandise”, the daily La Republica reported.
Full report on the Latin Correspondent site