Court allows cuts to universities’ budgets

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court has issued a verdict that allows the Economy Ministry to cut US$98 million from the public budget assigned to universities and polytechnics, reports Telesur.

The Constitutional Court sentence revoked the precautionary measures that were accepted on 12 May, which sought to stop the budget cuts to 32 public educational institutions in the country. “The Economy Ministry has the power to increase or decrease the education sector’s income and expenses. If it considers cutting the budget for universities, it can do so. That is a legal and ordinary measure,” the judges stated.

University authorities acknowledged that the Economy Ministry cuts will mainly affect the salaries and jobs in the public education system. “We will have to reduce the staff at 31 universities in Ecuador. This is a decision that will hit our academic quality,” Central University of Ecuador Rector Fernando Sempertegui said.
Full report on the Telesur site