Voices of Mexico no. 49

Our Voice

September 30 marked the 164th day of the conflict in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) that has paralyzed much of its academic activities, particularly classes. Part of the student body rejected the university rector's and coun­cil's proposal of establishing tuition fees for students who could pay, those with family incomes over four times the minimum wage a month. The idea behind the proposal was to supplement university resources, particularly those related to the needs of students themselves, to improve the quality of their education. With public monies scarce, the fees would be used mainly for libraries, laboratories, books and computers.

An important part of the university community thought that the proposal violated the right to free public education and was a cover for the intention to privatize higher education. The University Council modified its original proposal and stipulated voluntary tuition fees, allowing each student to decide according to his or her own conscience how much he/she would pay.