Salvador U Students Stick to Strike
The University of El Salvador remained closed Tuesday in the fourth day of student and professorial protests against alleged plans to privatize the only State-run higher institution in the nation.

The demonstration began Saturday, when young people convoked by MAUES (Abundant University Movement) blocked access to the university to condemn an Inter-American Development Bank loan they considered to have a privatization aim.

The 25 million dollar loan was made conditional on increase of students´ fees, academic reform, and violation of university autonomy, read demonstration fliers.

UES President Isabel Rodriguez asserted the government negotiated the loan with the IDB to improve teaching and research at four regional university headquarters, and update academic and teaching programs.

However, students said those are pretexts to privatize the university, where over 30,000 youth currently study.

Members of MAUES, which encompasses students, teachers and administration workers, said they were committed to protest indefinitely.

The protest has led to suspension of classes in the humanities, natural sciences, engineering and medicine departments.

Students also demand that the government provide UES with six percent of the domestic budget, instead of the 1.17 percent currently assigned.