Chávez leaves a legacy of poorly funded universities

By Andrew Rosati. As Nicólas Maduro takes the reins as Venezuelan interim president following the death of his strongman predecessor Hugo Chávez, educators and university administrators are hoping for a chance to repair tattered relations with their government.
“It could be an opportunity; we're waiting for them to listen to us,” said Rafael Escalona, academic vice-rector at Caracas’ Simón Bolívar University, or USB.
Educators have long lambasted the government for setting university budgets that never grow, crippling these institutions’ ability to improve infrastructure, conduct research and offer competitive wages. Read more...