[R-G] Bolivarian reforms taking affect at Venezuela's universities

[CeJ]

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20071018121640620

Excerpt:
>>VENEZUELA: Chavez scraps university entrance exam
Date: 21 October 2007
Writer: Jose Orozco


A decision by the socialist government of Venezuelan president Hugo
Chavez to scrap the national university examination has raised
questions about its effect on academic standards and how precisely to
widen access for poorer students.

By abolishing the Academic Aptitude Examination, the government has in
effect moved from a selection process to one based on entrance.
Instead of low-scoring students missing out on a university place, the
new system may require them to undertake a remedial course before they
enrol in a university programme.

Experts estimate that public universities based up to 30% of their
admission decisions on results from the national examination. But
private institutions and many public university faculties ignored the
score and gave their own exams.

Government critics conceded the old system reinforced the privilege
enjoyed by wealthy urbanites over poor students.

"If you're upper class, you know about all the exams and can pay for
them," said Leonardo Carvajal, an education researcher who coordinates
a local non-government organisation, the Education Assembly. "But if
you're a poor youth from the provinces, you don't know and you don't
have the money.">>end of excerpt

posted by CJ
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