Costa Rica May Cut University Funds
Costa Rica may
cut 13.2 million dollars from four public
university budgets.
The government announced in February a
reduction of support for higher education to
the tune of 7.5 billion colones (about 13.2
million dollars) but that the measure will
be delayed due to a guarantee by
administrators.
The University of Costa Rica, National,
State at Distance and the Technological
Institute will be the centers most affected
by the decision that, according to the
government is a result of economic
contraction.
The local daily, La Nacion, pointed out that
the break in conversations between academic
institution authorities and the ministers of
Education, Treasury, Planning and
Presidential after the Treasury refused to
compensate an eventual cut of the 2009
budget.
Initially it was thought that other sources
of income could be used to compensate the
cut but last May 26 the Treasury indicated
that the substitution "would not be
immediate" nor proportional to the
adjustment.
Among admionistrators there is concern over
the lack of agreement on the budget of 2009
because by September they must present the
budget plan for the following year.
The decision to reduce financial support
falls into the context of uncertainty among
professors and university authorities that
the economic crisis may prevent permanence
of socially disadvantaged students.
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