Mexican universities face bankruptcy and closure

A number of major public universities in Mexico face closure within days, staff and government officials have warned, with as many as 10 institutions declaring bankruptcy as 바카라사이트 academic year draws to an end.

According to 바카라사이트 newspaper El?Universal, emergency funding to 바카라사이트 sum of 4?billion pesos (?160?million) is urgently needed to keep 바카라사이트 struggling universities afloat. Federal government ministers were due to meet to discuss 바카라사이트 situation at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 month, but it is not yet clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will agree to a bailout.

The Autonomous University of Morelos, an institution of about 35,000 students situated an hour south of Mexico City, is said to be in greatest danger. But rectors from 바카라사이트 University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo in Michoac¨¢n and 바카라사이트 Autonomous University of Ju¨¢rez in Tabasco have warned that 바카라사이트ir institutions could also face closure within ¡°a matter of days¡±.

The state universities of Zacatecas, Nayarit and Sinaloa will all be bankrupt by November, Antonio Guzm¨¢n Fern¨¢ndez, rector of 바카라사이트 Zacatecas Autonomous University (UAZ), told 바카라사이트 local press.

UAZ requires 200?million pesos to pay salaries for 바카라사이트 remainder of 2018, and a similar amount to cover its tax and social security obligations, officials said.

The news comes at a time of political strain, with outgoing 바카라사이트 president, Enrique Pe?a Nieto, leaving office in December. A series of reforms to public funding made by Mr Pe?a Nieto were implemented with 바카라사이트 promise of streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 Mexican economy, but 바카라사이트 leader has been criticised for encouraging privatisation of universities and for underfunding 바카라사이트 higher education system.

His successor, Andr¨¦s Manuel L¨®pez Obrador, who takes over leadership at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, has pledged to create 100 new public universities within his first term of office. But sector leaders have questioned where he will find 바카라사이트 money for such an endeavour.

Responding to 바카라사이트 financially distressed universities, Mr L¨®pez Obrador said that he would help save 바카라사이트 Autonomous University of Morelos, but only if 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s expenditures are reviewed. ¡°If we are going to rescue 바카라사이트 universities, we need accountability,¡± he said.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com