At the headquarters of the Autonomous Christian University of Nicaragua (UCAN), in this city, students and parents have come in search of answers to the illegalization of that house of studies that announced the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, but no one gives them reasons.
Last Tuesday, March 7, UCAN, which had its headquarters in León and university campuses in the cities of Estelí, Matagalpa, Chinandega, Chontales and Masaya, had its legal status cancelled; an action carried out by the regime through the Ministry of the Interior.
Faced with this situation, the students of this Alma Mater are surprised and under uncertainty, like students from other private universities in Estelí.
Related news: They denounce that the closure of private universities in Nicaragua “curtails the right to education”
One of the UCAN students, who is in the second year of her Medical Technology degree and is originally from Jinotega, indicated that the closure of her house of studies worries her, since there are few universities that teach her degree. “They told us that they do not have a firm answer and that they cannot deliver certificates or records… no campus is receiving classes,” said the university.
anxiety and insecurity
Through communiqué 03-23, the National Council of Universities (CNU) informed the affected university students not to take any type of action before the authorities of that alma mater, since these would no longer be valid.
Uncertainty is also experienced among students from other private universities, as expressed by José Laguna, from the University of Northern Nicaragua (UNN Estelí), who points out that this situation makes it clear to them that “there is no academic freedom,” despite that this is what they are looking for when opting for a private university.
«It is unfortunate, we have discussed it with other colleagues, which is sad, because we do not know when it will also be our turn at our university. In Estelí there are very few private universities left,” Laguna said.
“The problem with public universities is that everything is politicized, you cannot make a critical opinion and it is not known if they can monitor the comments that are made,” added the university student.
“Keep paying” they say
Meanwhile, other UCAN students added that this Saturday they were sent a message from the authorities, in which they were advised that the university would now be called “Father Gaspar García Laviana”, which would have as its new academic director, the teacher Paul Cruz and a new administrative director.
They were told that they all continue as active students in the courses they are currently studying, that the costs of the fees remain as they had been paying, “this until there are no official communications from the new authorities.” “For now, no document can be delivered to students (trace certificates pending withdrawal) also subject to further notice as part of the transition process that is taking place,” they were informed.
Other universities canceled in Estelí
In the city of Estelí there were about 12 private universities, of these, six have had their legal status cancelled. The higher education centers canceled so far are: UPOLI, UCATSE, UPF, UNIVAL, UPONIC and UCAN. It should be noted that many university students who completed their studies in the year that UPOLI was cancelled, have not yet been able to graduate, due to various obstacles and lack of answers, which is why up to now they are preparing to take the degree exam.
Two affected students pointed out that this situation “has been a headache”, and they regretted that this type of situation caused by the dictatorship continues. The universities that are still active are: UCN, UNN, UDO, UCSER, URD and UML. It should be noted that it became known that the facilities occupied by UNIVAL will now be used by UCSER.
By United Voices
