Director: Daniel C. Levy
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PROPHE Summary: The four public universities in Costa Rica have voiced strong opposition to a legal proposal that would change public policy regarding private higher education. This proposal is the result of a commission of different political factions. The heads of the four public universities say that such a new law would end the State's meaningful regulation of the private institutions, in particular by reducing the role of the national body that has had the main regulatory role, a body on which public higher education is represented. One example of de-regulation is removal of controls over private sector fees. Another is that the private institutions gain the right to recognize foreign degrees, presently a role reserved for the national council. Up until a year ago, the private institutions opposed the legislative plans as involving excess State intervention but now they welcome the legislation as limited to State inspection rather than regulation. For the full story, see Extraído de Nación,
April 17, 2006, "Consejo Nacional de Rectores (Conare) teme
pérdida de control estatal sobre las 'U' privadas,"
by Ángela Ávalos
R. PROPHE Observation: Political confrontations over regulation of private higher education
are common worldwide. Costa Rica's illustrates growing tension between
public and private, against the backdrop of the proliferation to over
fifty private institutions. It also illustrates a not uncommon configuration:
the State has become more aligned than before with the private sector,
leaving public universities without this key partner in their opposition
to private-friendly legislation. Although many countries have recently
beefed up the public regulation of private higher education institutions,
others are engaged in a more de-regulatory process. The Costa Rican
case exemplifies private-public conflict as it can play out in a vibrant
democracy. Thus, all sides speak freely and the decision is ultimately
made by the country's freely elected legislature. Private institutions
often get a sympathetic ear from legislators who represent constituencies
that use those institutions.
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Program
for Research on Private Higher Education
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