Simón Bolívar UWC updates

25 January 2012
FUNDACEA (Simón Bolívar UWC’s board) has submitted its response to the ‘administrative enquiry’ into the college’s future, which was announced in December by the Venezuelan government. The 20 January deadline for FUNDACEA’s response to the enquiry was eight days after representatives of the Ministry of Popular Power for University Education and local and state officials held a meeting on the college campus to declare that the college would become a public university with immediate effect.

FUNDACEA and UWC International believed that the negotiations and subsequent administrative enquiry would provide a process for transition, with FUNDACEA’s submission to the enquiry enabling it to put its case on behalf of the students and staff and for a settlement that would help FUNDACEA to meet its outstanding salary payments and other liabilities. A reasonable settlement is important not only in the context of the investment that has made in its teaching and farm resources over the last 28 years, but also because since September it has not been allowed to generate its usual operational income from the activities of the farm.

Despite the verbal announcements made on 12 January and subsequent actions by government officials, the position of FUNDACEA and UWC International is that, although Simón Bolívar remains non-operational, FUNDACEA remains legally responsible in all respects until an official announcement of a takeover is made by the government and details of the transition confirmed.

UWC International is preparing certification and accompanying documentation to recognise the time that all the students have spent at UWC.

Keith Clark, UWC International Executive Director, comments: “This is a deeply frustrating situation. We have to now accept that Simón Bolívar UWC will be nationalised, and that part of the motivation has been the college’s membership of UWC, but we felt that the government’s enquiry process would provide at least the semblance of an orderly transition. The announcements of 12 January – before the date set for FUNDACEA’s input to that enquiry – make a mockery of the process.

“No matter what steps are already under way to start the process of transition, it is essential that FUNDACEA receives formal notification of the decision and, crucially, the details that accompany it. In particular, we need certainty around the arrangements that will be made for the continuation of those students and staff who wish to remain in the public institution.

“As it is, we are set to lose a college which has pursued a very distinctive pathway within UWC , has made a huge impact on its generations of students, the majority of whom are now making a very considerable difference in professions linked to agriculture, and has also made a very significant impact on its community. The situation is made only worse by this wholly avoidable confusion. We urge the authorities now to conclude their process and give formal notice of their decision and the details that accompany it.”

13 January 2012
The Venezuelan Ministry of Higher Education announced in December that it would be undertaking an ‘administrative enquiry’ into Simón Bolívar UWC of Agriculture. The college was prevented from opening for the 2011-12 year when its land was taken in September and it has not been able to operate since, but it continues to remain a part of the UWC movement and will do so during this period of enquiry. The college’s board (FUNDACEA) and UWC International will cooperate fully with the enquiry in the interests of securing the best outcome for the college and its staff and students. At this stage we anticipate that the most likely outcome will be that the college becomes a non-UWC, public institution.

There are currently no academic activities taking place on campus, and both national and international students have been asked to remain at home until the government announces its intentions. It is our understanding that the government will commit to a solution that enables the students and staff to remain in a successor institution, if this is the outcome of the enquiry. However, UWC International is conscious of its responsibility to explore other options in case this does not prove feasible or acceptable for some students. UWC International will also at the appropriate time issue certification to recognise the time that current students have spent within UWC; those students will naturally also become UWC alumni and remain as members of the movement.

It is not known how long the government’s administrative enquiry process will take, but clearly it is in the best interests of all parties, especially the students and staff, for there to be a resolution at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, we appreciate the deep concern of the wider UWC community, but believe that at this stage, following the actions undertaken by the college board and by UWC International, we must now await the outcome of the government’s process.

The UWC International Board will have an opportunity to review the situation further at its meeting at UWC in Mostar on 3-4 February 2012.

3 November 2011
UWC International continues to be concerned about the situation still facing Simón Bolívar UWC of Agriculture. The situation remains unresolved and the academic year delayed. As long as the negotiations at government level continue and until an official decision is made by the authorities in Venezuela, we are unable to provide more concrete information on the situation. We are monitoring the situation closely and maintaining close contact with the college board (FUNDACEA). Our priority remains the welfare and future of the staff and students and we are also in contact with the national committees who have students at the college with a view to ensuring that their interests are safeguarded. The UWC International Board discussed the issue at the recent Board meeting and the Chair of UWC International, Tim Toyne Sewell, has since written a letter to President Chavez to request his personal intervention in the situation and expressing our concern for the staff and students. We have used embassy contacts to ensure as far as we can that the letter reaches President Chavez. We thank everyone in the UWC community for their support at this difficult time and will update the movement again as soon as we are in a position to do so.

17 October 2011
UWC International would like to thank everybody for their support of Simón Bolívar UWC. Unfortunately the situation has not improved and the college’s future is increasingly uncertain. Over 600 tweets were sent to President Chavez. The college Board, staff and where appropriate, student representatives, have met with government officials at various levels both in Caracas and at the college. Whilst meetings continue, current students have been informed that the start of term has been delayed until at least 01 November. The Chair of the College Board, Luis Marcano Gonzalez and Director of FUNDACEA, Izamar Alvarez are keeping in close contact with the staff at the college. The UWC International Board are meeting this weekend and will be discussing the issue. We will keep you updated with further news as it becomes available.

Background information published by FUNDACEA, 28 September 2011