Thought center or school for high bureaucracy? Between the Calderonistas and the Peñismo, none of these functions was fulfilled by the CIDE. Refuge of former members of the cabinet and recipient of funds from organizations such as the Soros Foundation, this college received the Fourth Transformation under the general direction of the lawyer Sergio López Ayllón.
The lopezobradorista six-year term had barely begun and the CIDE Teachers Union with 219 academics -heads and associates- emerged -in May 2019-, without a single one failing the call. At Conacyt, where María Elena Álvarez Buylla was already serving, they registered that union decision as an affront to the austerity and transparency policies of the incoming government.
Labor disputes and academic performance began to worsen at CIDE after the federal government’s decision to abolish trusts and review fundraising in public centers dedicated to research and teaching. Tuition fees and student support were never at risk, the salaries of the staff of teachers and directors had to be subject to the parameters set in the National Palace.
With a budget of 300 million pesos, the CIDE goes through the paradox of losing students —the high rejection rates ended up inhibiting undergraduate applicants— but adding income from consultancies and donations.
Nine months ago, López Ayllón left the general leadership of CIDE. And Álvarez Buylla appointed José Antonio Romero Tellaeche as interim director, who was nominated to fill the vacancy permanently. Vidal Llerenas was also registered in charge.
Romero Tellaeche has a specific diagnosis of the institution, but lacks the support of the student community and teachers. In part, due to their unfulfilled promises to open channels of dialogue and protect the interests of CIDE. His decision to relieve the director of the Aguascalientes headquarters, Alejandro Madrazo Lajous, due to “loss of confidence” is interpreted as an ominous sign.
The process to appoint the new head of the CIDE began four weeks ago, with the publication of the call. Applicants had to be proposed —through a written communication addressed to the External Evaluation Committee— by a member of the CIDE community, who should submit a file to prove compliance with the requirements, including a work program.
The registration period closed on Friday the 5th, at 3:00 p.m. That same day, the work program that both will defend tomorrow at noon was released in a debate that will be witnessed by CONACYT officials at CIDE headquarters.
The first in turn will be Llerenas Morales, with a broad political career and modest academic merits, who like the acting director will have 25 minutes to present his proposals and another 20, to answer questions from the public. At a red light, there would be no capacity limitation, but the organizers have established a rigorous adherence to the health regulations in force during the Covid-19 contingency.
At the end, those attending the debate will be able to fill out a digital evaluation card. The meaning of that manifestation, it is clear, does not constitute a vote.
The internal monitoring also implies the opening of a space for dialogue and consultation with the community of citizens, by the representatives of the Conacyt. However, it was conditioned to request the exercise of that right in writing, in the Sectorial and Regional Articulation Unit of CONACYT. Those who notified this intention – the registration period closed last Friday the 4th – will have a maximum of five minutes to express themselves.
The external auscultation will take place on Friday 19 at the Conacyt facilities. Upon completion, applicants will be interviewed by María Elena Álvarez-Buylla at a time and date to be confirmed.
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Journalist and columnist for El Economista, author of Doña Perpetua: the power and opulence of Elba Esther Gordillo. Elba Esther Gordillo against the SEP.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx