Peruvian Students Protest Proposed PRONABEC Scholarship Reforms

• Peruvian students and scholarship organizations are protesting proposed amendments to the National Scholarship Program (PRONABEC), demanding a 60-day public consultation period.
• Critics argue the reforms undermine equal access to education by shifting financial risk to students and prioritizing budgetary sustainability over merit and equity.
• The Lima Bar Association has formally opposed the amendments, citing potential violations of the right to education.

Core Concerns

• The proposed changes affect 27 articles of Law No. 29837, including:
  • Tightened grounds for scholarship revocation.
  • Restrictions on changing majors or institutions.
  • Elimination of funding for repeated courses.
  • Reduced benefits for graduate students.
  • Increased centralization of administrative decision-making.

Perspectives

• Students & Advocacy Groups: Organizations including FEP and FRENABEP argue the reform is a substantive policy shift rather than an administrative update, asserting that the current 15-day consultation window is insufficient.
• PRONABEC Administration: Executive Director Enrique Chon justifies the move as a return to merit-based principles, citing 857 cases of poor academic performance in the 2024-II period.
• Legal Opposition: The Lima Bar Association (CAL) warns that the reform creates unfair barriers and contradicts international human rights instruments.

Follow-Up

• Student representatives held a meeting with Education Minister Jorge Marticorena Mendoza and Congresswoman Ruth Luque on July 14.
• Protests are expected to continue at the Ministry of Education until demands for withdrawal or extended dialogue are met.