The Senate approved this Wednesday a new General Law on Higher Education , a document that confirms that university education must be free and compulsory , and sent the opinion to the Chamber of Deputies to complete the legislative process.
Unanimously, with 108 votes in favor, the Upper House approved the project to issue the new legislation, “whose objective is to train professionals with a high social commitment , who contribute to social, cultural, scientific, technological
, humanistic, productive and economic of the country ”.
This new law establishes the bases for the State to comply with its obligation to guarantee the right to education at this level. In addition, it recognizes the autonomy that the law grants to universities and higher education institutions , as well as
to their legal regime, self-government , freedom of teaching and research, administrative structure, assets, characteristics and educational models.
The opinion, which will be analyzed in San Lázaro for its eventual approval, reiterates the compulsory and gratuitous nature of higher education. Likewise, it establishes a national registry of options that will inform the population of the
spaces available at this level of education, as well as the requirements for admission.
In addition, they highlighted, "it links higher education institutions with the need of the social, productive and economic sectors" and "promotes support programs for students' qualifications." "It prioritizes the student community whose interests
and needs are the center of the National Higher Education System," they detail.
The new law also encourages the creation of instances to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in schools. On the other hand, it establishes a System for the Evaluation and Accreditation of said institutions and regulates the concurrence of the
Federation and the federative entities in their financing.
The bill specifies that the legislative processes related to the organic laws of the universities and higher education institutions to which the law grants autonomy "will at all times respect in an unrestricted manner the guarantees of said institutions,"
so they may not undermine their faculty. and responsibility to govern themselves.
"Any initiative or reform, he states, must have the results of a prior, free and informed consultation of the competent governing bodies of the university or higher education institution to which the law grants autonomy and must have an explicit
response from its highest collegiate governing body ”, they remarked.
"This is a law that will regulate higher education in the country for the good and will surely be an instrument that allows it to raise its quality standards," said Senator Rubén Rocha, president of the Education Commission and promoter of
legislation.