Students will return to the streets for another nationwide day of protest against education reforms days before meeting with the education minister for a public debate, leaders announced on Friday.
Following Thursday night’s torch-lit march, the students have called on workers, community leaders, and teachers to join their next protest on November 10.
Five days later they are set to meet with Education Minister Maria Fernanda Campo in the latest attempt at face-to-face talks.
Student representatives blamed Campo for the collapse of proposed talks with student leaders earlier this week.
According to Jairo Rivera from the National Student Round Table, the minister cancelled the debate citing a “lack of guarantees.”
Rivera said, “we were left waiting for the minister to hold the debate. It annoys us and it saddens us a little.”
Rivera added he believed yesterday’s debate in Congress on the reform achieved very little. “Many in the government coalition don’t even know the Higher Education Reform,” he said.
Students claim the reform, known as ‘Law 30’ will lead to the privatization of education, reduced access to higher education for the poor, and increased costs for students.
The government claim the reform is necessary to revive Colombia’s crumbling and underfinanced public university system.