Africa-Press – Cape verde. The financing and survival of higher education has not been easy in Cape Verde. With the covid-19 crisis, some higher education institutions have seen student debt increase, in some cases, exponentially. This is the case at Uni-CV, where students owe around 24,000 contos in tuition alone, according to the dean, José Arlindo Barreto.
“According to the calculations of the financial services, the debts for bribes are around 24 million escudos”, says the rector of the University of Cape Verde, José Arlindo Barreto, when asked about the matter. As the largest higher education institution, although this is a problem that extends to all other universities, the issue is particularly relevant at the Uni-CV level.
All over the country, the blame for the current situation of delay and even the absence of payment of tuition fees is attributed to Covid-19, which has left many families in a financially difficult situation.
José Arlindo Barreto, however, indicates other elements that caused this situation: “The financial and social situation of the University of Cape Verde, due to its very nature and mission, has always been fragile and with the pandemic crisis and the economic crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine , this fragility became more visible. A more structured solution is needed so that the largest university in the country can fulfill its mission and objectives”.
In this way, aware of its obligations as a public university, José Arlindo Barreto guarantees that Uni-CV “always opted for the negotiation of payment of student debts”.
Challenges and constraints
With student debt around 24 million escudos, “one of the biggest constraints” is undoubtedly that of the financial sustainability of universities.
In the case of Uni-CV, says José Arlindo Barreto, this “brings with it several issues related to research, the development of career perspectives for teaching staff and administrative technicians and the management of human resources”.
Therefore, Barreto says that the new Uni-CV rectoral team, elected less than a year ago, has “worked during these four months of mandate, with serenity, rigor and determination in the search for solutions for this financial sustainability, but also for pave the way for the quality of research, teaching and the extension of Uni-CV”.
Barreto also states that “the lack of payment of fees generates constraints of various kinds, not only in terms of operating income, but also in the negative impacts it has on the reorganization and on the search for efficiency in the functioning of internal systems and services”.
A debt that accumulates year after year, considering that the non-payment of tuition fees at Uni-CV “does not prevent students from attending classes or being evaluated”.
“Currently, students enroll by the number of credits and the concept of retention in a given year has almost disappeared. One can speak of a significant number of failures derived from several factors, not exclusive to the payment of tuition fees. As is the case with the conditions of accommodation, food, school materials, transport and communication”, he summarizes, aware that this is a problem that will have to be faced and resolved, in due course.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
