The minister of Human capital, Sandra Pettovello, together with the Secretary of Education, Carlos Torrendell, today they received Ricardo Gelpi, the rector of the UBA. After the meeting, the official assured: “Never was it reported by Libertad Avanza or the Ministry of Human Capital that the public university was going to be closed or defunded.”
The meeting took place a week after the university march on April 23. “Education for us is fundamental, that is why the President adhered to the commitment of Argentines for Education when he was still campaigning,” said the minister.
He also referred to the resources allocated to education. In this sense, he clarified: “From the government we strongly support public education, both state and private management. But what we are also looking for is the efficient use of resources, That is why we protect taxpayer money to support education. Optimal results will only be seen if that money is used to guarantee education and not partisan politics.”
And he added: “The university march did not change anything in the relationship or the dialogue that we had been having with the rectors. As we already stated, The funds had been transferred the day before and the opposition political march still took place.”.
For its part, the UBA issued a statement that highlights that this afternoon’s meeting was the “first meeting in person” between the rector, the minister and the secretary. “It was a protocol talk whose objective was to establish a channel for dialogue,” the document states and develops: “It marked a first step in search of a solution to the budget problem that remains in force to this day.”
“The University of Buenos Aires faces a critical situation due to the national government’s decision to extend the budget values from 2023 to 2024 despite inflation of more than 270 percent. This measure places the UBA at risk of defunding, compromising its essential functions such as university and pre-university education, research, student scholarships and medical care to more than half a million patients annually in its hospital centers,” he explains.
In addition, it announces a second meeting that will be held by the minister of the area. In this sense, the document communicates: “Tomorrow there will be another meeting on the budget issue in which Pettovello and Torrendell will participate with members of the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), which brings together rectors of universities from all over the country, including Ricardo “Gelpi.”
In turn, from the UBA they point out that both Sandra Pettovello and Carlos Torrendell are “the new interlocutors on the part of the government.”
After thousands of people gathered in Plaza de Mayo and in different parts of the country to raise their demands to the national government, President Javier Milei pointed out that the demonstration meant “a categorical triumph” for his administration.
“The claim may be genuine, but built on a lie. We never said that we were going to close the universities or that we were going to take away funding. The only thing we ask and seek is that since public universities are being financed by taxpayers, the numbers have to be audited,” were the words of the head of state in an interview in Radio Rivadaviafive days after the demonstration.
“And who doesn’t want to be audited? Thieves don’t want to be audited. If the numbers were transparent, they could be audited. Who doesn’t want to be audited? The one who steals,” she added. “What happened that day was a categorical political triumph for La Libertad Avanza. And that’s why in some surveys not only did my image not drop, but in some it went up. Because it served to see which side each one is on,” she stressed.
For her part, Vice President Victoria Villarruel expressed her position through a publication on her social networks. “What pride for Argentinians in the public university, but how sad that it is used by those who brought education to its knees“, he stated with criticism of Kirchnerism.
And he continued: “I want a Public University that is proud, not a bunch of leftist students and adults, I want a UBA where you can speak and think as you want without the thought police imposing themselves on you.”
“And mainly I want a UBA where the money of all Argentines is not wasted to bank the kiosks and the thirst for fresh blood of the usual parasites. Public education is a right, but auditing and guaranteeing transparency is an obligation.”concluded the vice president.
