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The country’s universities are already preparing for a return to classrooms under the application of strict health security protocols as well as the economic impact of the pandemic, which will lead higher education to face two major challenges: a class model in which it will not be possible to return to a total presence and a discouraging economic outlook.
A fight that is no longer just against the virus, but is now for the survival of an educational sector that is not only faced with a possible drop in the rate of people enrolled, but also with the constant request of students to reduce the value to pay for the next semester, and even the return of all or a percentage of the value paid for the first semester of this year, derived from the complex financial situation of Colombian families because of the pandemic as well as the nonconformity with the remote and virtual education model.
(Also read: University presidents ask the government for financial relief)
Recently, groups of students from universities in the country such as Los Andes and Javeriana, undertook Legal actions to request the refund of the tuition value:
“We do not agree with this model in which quality is detrimental and does not correspond to the value paid for an educational service. So we consider that our rights were violated and that it is fair that our money be returned to us“EL TIEMPO, a student from the University of Los Andes who is part of this legal action, told EL TIEMPO.
Sources in the universities, consulted by this newspaper on the subject, see this with concern, especially because it is a reaction arising from an emergency that took the entire sector by surprise, and that if it is resolved against it would affect seriously its economy, already undermined by the current crisis of the pandemic, making its operation unsustainable.
(Also read: U. Central: ‘We cannot return to a fully face-to-face education’)
It is estimated that private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) depend on 90 percent of the income generated by this concept (the rest comes from research, sponsorship and consulting). As for public ones, this amount can be up to 50 percent.
According to the Observatory of the Colombian University, if you add to this the operating expenses for personnel, equipment, credits and financing of infrastructure projects, very few universities manage to generate profits and most of them seek a point of balance between expenses and income. . Others remain constantly in debt. Being forced to return these resources could lead to an intense crisis.
But that is not all. In a recent letter signed by several rectors, it is pointed out that the reduction of students enrolled next semester can reach 50 percent, a forecast similar to that made by the Colombian Association of Universities (Ascún).
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Alejandro Gaviria, rector of the University of Los Andes pointed out that this institution “has been operating for several years in a situation of financial balance. Almost all of the revenue it receives from tuition and research and consulting services is used to pay for operating costs, including a plant of more than 800 teachers. ”
For his part, José Leonardo Valencia, rector of the Andean Area University assured that “many highly organized universities have to survive and support their expenses despite the reduction in enrollment. But these are a handful, the others barely achieve financial balance. ”
A recent report from the Laboratory of Economics of Education of the Javeriana University (LEE) highlighted that in this context many HEIs will have to reduce their expenses, including personnel, not only because they will lose students, but “due to the loss of income due to the cancellation of many courses and programs on campus, and the decrease in the value of their investment funds due to sharp falls in the financial markets. ”
(Also read: What does the return to face-to-face classes in the country depend on?)
Despite all these difficulties, a large number of universities decided to listen to students and lower the cost of their tuition. Despite this, student groups continue to demand higher discounts.
Jaime Arias, rector of the Central University, pointed out that, unfortunately, HEIs cannot meet such expectations: “It is understood that many of these grants do not seem sufficient for students. But not all universities can reduce up to 30 percent of the tuition value. Others we can less, but we do it because it is time to help ”.
Still, he argues that it will not be easy to sustain this aid any longer: “Our expenses are still the same, but our income will be reduced. We need financial aid on credit and tax issues to face this huge deficit. ”
Back to school will not be totally face-to-face
At the moment, face-to-face classes cannot be held until after May 31. Although the Ministry of Education is expected to lift the measure on this date, according to the evolution of the pandemic, the restriction could be kept longer.
Consulted by EL TIEMPO, several universities indicated that they are already preparing to return to class. They all agree that they will not be able to return to a fully face-to-face model.
(Also read: The Impact of the Pandemic on Graduate Programs)
For example, Javier Forero, who is in charge of creating the security protocols at the Javeriana University, pointed out that, if conditions allow, classes are expected to be held mid-year, and ensures that the institution seeks to implement a hybrid model between virtuality and presentiality for the next semester:
“The capacity of the rooms must be adapted so that social distance is maintained. The goal is to install microphones and cameras in the classrooms to simultaneously have students present remotely. At the undergraduate level, we anticipate that security measures requires us to have only 35 percent of face-to-face students and the idea is to rotate this population so that they combine their remote classes with those that are physically fit ”.
Similar measures have been considered in the rest of institutions, such as the Central University, where a distance of up to two meters is expected between students in the same classroom, or recently the University of Los Andes, whose president Gaviria pointed out that a model of blendedness “that allows university life to be recovered somewhat and at the same time protect everyone’s health”.
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El Rosario, La Sabana, Grancolombiano Polytechnic, Andean Area, among others, propose similar hybrid models.
Regarding education for work (institutions with technical and technological programs with a strong practical component), some institutions such as LCI also seek alternatives, as explained Álvaro Lozano, CEO for Latin America:
“We will not go back to normal. We are proposing that there are subjects that your practical component can be done remotely with specialized software or simulators. There are others where we know that this does not happen. We are advancing the entire theoretical component so that, when the restriction is lifted, we can fully enter into practice. “
All these processes and proposals, indicate all the institutions consulted, will be mediated by the application of the security protocols established by the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as local authorities.
This could involve, among other things, a suspension of sports and cultural activities, closure of cafeterias, creation of exclusive corridors for mobilization inside the campus, disinfection at the entrance and exit of the facilities, maintaining the work of administrative staff at home, encouraging the use of the bicycle, strict use of masks, installation of antibacterial gel dispensers , among other measures.
REDCACIÓN ECUCACIÓN – @ EducaciónET
