The Venezuelan National Assembly has passed a new law to include
students, workers, professors and local community members in the
decision-making processes at universities. This law is a step towards
eliminating barriers to higher education.
The law states that
students have the right to an equal vote during the election of
university authorities, access to administrative records, and also the
right to evaluate professors and receive services necessary for college
life. The law establishes university councils that are to be
democratically elected by students, professors, wage workers,
administrators and other members of the university community.
Various
councils will be elected by students and university workers to oversee
the transformation of universities in accordance with the new law and
constitution and to audit and oversee university budgeting and
administration.
This is a change from the current way of managing
a university by a University Council that gives little weight to the
votes of students and workers.
