Student Actions Hit University Fee Hike

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI, August 1 — In June, students at the State University of Haiti (UEH) waged a struggle against the university administration to prevent a fee increase for entry to UEH (see CHALLENGE, (07/17/13). This increase, which aimed to limit the entry of workers’ children to UEH, had been proposed by a reactionary leader close to the government and its ruling class.
For three weeks, students from several faculties (campuses) here organized a series of student general assemblies, militant marches, sit-ins and demonstrations.
Following the initial demonstrations, the Rector and a few reactionary teachers took the offensive, calling for the arrest of student leaders, accusing them of criminal activity — (breaking windows of the administration building and spray-painting government cars). They used the bosses’ press to divert us from the real question: their attack against the interests of students and their parents. These bosses have even announced their intention to break their word about rescinding the fee increases.
This student struggle achieved some success, expecting only a doubling of the registration fee to 1,000 gourdes (about U.S. $25) instead of tripling. And the bosses are in a total state of disarray: every day they take to the media to announce a different point of view and decision. They’re not even on the same page regarding the totality of student demands beyond the fee increase.
The students have not lost everything, but neither did they win. Why? The reduction of the increase stemmed from their ability to mobilize. But because they did not continue to organize students to press for all of their demands and to make alliances with workers, they’re at a standstill. And PL’ers have not yet made a protracted struggle to win an understanding of the role of the university under capitalism — which aims to recruit and train youth to be the agents and allies of the capitalist state, and the need for an egalitarian communist revolution.
However, the struggle continues, both on the reform level and ideologically among students. PLP is committed to this and is ready and able to give better communist leadership on campus and beyond.