Strike at USP: Directors criticize students in letter – 09/29/2023 – Education

Directors of all units at USP (University of São Paulo) released a letter about the strike initiated at the institution due to the shortage of teachers. The text, read at an event this Friday afternoon (29), condemns the strikers and defends the rector, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Júnior.

Even though it respects the student movement, says the management body, some of its demonstrations resort to practices that are not consistent with the academic environment, “involving physical restrictions that block access to university spaces, in some cases accompanied by constraints on teachers, technical staff, administrative staff and students”.

They also declare that the demands presented are important, especially the hiring of teachers in order to meet the demand for the courses. However, they attribute the problem to the university’s previous administration and highlight current numbers.

“Despite the long process of public competitions for hiring teachers, which take around 8 months to complete, hiring is in full progress, with 240 new teachers already hired”, they state. “The university is dynamic. It does not stop and cannot stop”, they continue.

Read the full text:

“Directors and directors of the University of São Paulo come out publicly to declare their unity in defending USP, expressing themselves about what is up to them to manage in their daily lives, their reality.

USP is a São Paulo and Brazilian heritage. Over its almost 90 years of existence, it has trained thousands of professionals in all areas of knowledge, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, producing research that has impacted the development of society, being a national and international reference.

As a whole, USP is responsible for a fifth of all Science carried out in Brazil. It is no coincidence that it is among the 100 best in the world, occupying 85th position in the world rankings (2023).

A significant part of this process is our students. We pride ourselves on forming critical and participatory citizens.

We respect the autonomy of the student movement in our institution, as this respect is part of our democratic commitment.

This same spirit has united the entire Uspian community so many times throughout its history, to fight for rights and democracy.

Last week, USP was the scene of several student demonstrations that affected around half of the university’s schools, colleges, institutes and museums.

Although most of them are occurring peacefully, some have resorted to procedures that are not in keeping with the academic environment, involving physical closures that block access to university spaces, in some cases accompanied by constraints on teachers, technical-administrative staff and students. .

The demonstrations have two main demands: the hiring of teachers and the expansion of policies to support the inclusion of students with socioeconomic vulnerability. These are important demands that have worried the USP community for years.

From 2014 to 2022, USP was unable to completely replace its teaching staff and staff, and between 2019 and 2022, competitions for teaching staff were interrupted due to the pandemic caused by Covid-19.

Despite this, the teaching, technical and administrative staff remained firm in their aim to guarantee a world-class University.

On the other hand, the quota policies for university entrance exams implemented over the last few years have increased the proportion of students coming from public schools and black, brown and indigenous students, and it is important that this group is fully able to remain at university with dignity. .

The University management, its directors and the Rectorate were attentive to these issues. For several years now, the university has been investing in its student admission and retention policy.

More recently, the Dean of Inclusion and Belonging (PRIP) was created, with the respective Inclusion and Belonging Commissions (CIP) in the Units.

In the last entrance exam, 54% of approved students came from public schools, with 27% black, mixed race and indigenous students, demonstrating the effectiveness of inclusion policies at admission.

To provide full conditions to students in socioeconomic vulnerability, the University increased investment in scholarships by 60% and readjusted values ​​that have no parallel in the university’s history.

Likewise, last year the current Rectoral administration implemented an ambitious program to renew the University’s teaching staff, supported by the Directors of all Units, Institutes, Museums and members of the University Council, with the distribution of 879 new teaching positions.

Despite the long process of public competitions for hiring teachers, which take around 8 months to complete, hiring is in full swing, with 240 new teachers already hired, which will bring great renewal to the University, including in new areas of knowledge.

In addition, USP resumed hiring technical-administrative employees, with 597 new hiring positions.

The University is dynamic. It doesn’t stop and it can’t stop.

The USP community – leaders, teachers, technical and administrative staff, students and other collaborators – is working intensely to continue building a strong public University, training generations of conscious citizens, competent professionals and dedicated researchers, producing and disseminating knowledge so that we can have a society each better and better.”