Paraguay minister slams university rectors for 'scamming' students

Paraguay's Minister of Education, Luis Ramírez, launched a strong critique against university rectors, accusing them of repeatedly delaying compliance with educational laws for over two decades. Ramírez asserted that this prolonged non-compliance effectively "scams" students who pay tuition for degrees from unaccredited programs or those whose validity is uncertain.

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The society today expects another conduct, another behavior from us. Years of nothing, years; years of a situation where we cannot even know if the titles have value today.

During a plenary session of the National Council of Higher Education (Cones), Ramírez highlighted that some rectors have been seeking extensions for up to 23 years to meet legal requirements. He argued that this behavior is detrimental to the students and the reputation of higher education in Paraguay. The minister stressed that the public expects a higher ethical standard from university leaders.

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For over 20 years they have not complied with the law. They were given three more years to comply with the law and they ask for three more years again; it has been 23 years since they should have complied with the law and they do not.

Ramírez pointed out that the real damage is done to students enrolled in programs without proper accreditation or those receiving degrees of unknown standing. "Young people in Paraguay, young people who with effort and sacrifice pay tuition and are scammed," he stated, urging the rectors to rise to the occasion and prioritize the quality and accreditation of their institutions. He insisted it is unjust to continue defrauding young people.

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Having titles from unaccredited careers, registration of titles whose conditions we do not know; that is the real damage, that is the real harm. The harm to the youth of Paraguay, the youth who with effort and sacrifice pay tuition and are scammed.