A Colombian university student leader has claimed that the education minister has not listened nor changed anything about the Law 30 education reform bill, despite widespread protests, in an interview with W Radio Monday.
Jairo Rivera, secretary general of the Federation of University Students, was referring to the education minister Maria Fernanda Campo.
“We are not interested in the government making cosmetic changes, putting in new articles and approving it the same way,” said Rivera.
Rivera said the place to debate this bill is in the “university community,” and not in Congress.
The student leader said there should be a process of democratic participation before discussing the bill. He suggested that the bill be withdrawn and added that many members of Congress have requested the same.
According to Rivera, the government wants to pass the bill by means of “legislative violence.”
He added that on November there will be another national protest march “in which all social sectors” will participate, to reject the law, which he said was “un-called for.”
Bogota was effectively shut down by students protests on November 3 and a torch-lit night time protest march was held the same day.
Talks are due to be held between student leaders and Campo November 15.
