Jesuit University in Nicaragua Suspends Classes Citing Government Funding Transfer Delays
BY ISN STAFF | August 1, 2018
The Jesuit’s Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) de Nicaragua released a statement on July 31, 2018, announcing the suspension of most of their academic programs campus activities for the month of August. The statement cited financial realities precipitated by the ongoing social unrest in the country, including lost income from academic services that could not be provided and delays in government funding being transferred from the National University Council (CNU) to the university in recent months. By constitutional mandate, dating back to the 1950’s the national government is obliged to dedicate 6% of its total budget to higher education and the CNU is responsible for its distribution. Without the needed funds, the UCA is unable to compensate the 1,350 employees (faculty, staff, etc.) that serve over 9,000 students in a variety of ways.

Statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola located on the campus of the Universidad Centroamericana de Nicaragua [UCA Nicaragua]
The UCA’s statement was originally published in Spanish on their social media channels. An English translation which was made provided by the Winds of Peace Foundation can be found below.
[SOURCES: Havana Times, Winds of Peace Foundation, UCA Nicaragua, The New York Times]
Thus wrote Mahatma Gandhi: “The aim of university education should be to turn out true servants of the people who will live and die for the country’s freedom.”