
-
Belgian region grapples with forever chemical scandal
-
New-look Australia focused on LA 2028 at swimming worlds
-
China urges global consensus on balancing AI development, security
-
David's century sparks Aussies to T20I clincher over WIndies
-
Death toll rises in Thai-Cambodian clashes despite ceasefire call
-
China prodigy takes on swimming world aged 12
-
UN gathering eyes solution to deadlocked Palestinian question
-
Polls open in Taiwan's high-stakes recall election
-
'Alien' lands at Comic-Con
-
Top footballers afraid to speak out against playing too many games: FIFPro chief
-
Top US Justice official questions Epstein accomplice for 2nd day
-
Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand: envoy to UN
-
Raducanu and Fernandez beat the heat to reach DC Open semis
-
US stocks end at records as markets eye tariff deadline
-
Trump, EU chief to meet Sunday in push for trade deal
-
Fake AI photos of Trump with Epstein flood internet
-
Ponting says 'no reason' why Root cannot top Tendulkar's run record
-
NFL players, employees fined for selling Super Bowl tickets: reports
-
World's smallest snake makes big comeback
-
Trade on agenda as Trump lands in Scotland for diplomacy and golf
-
UN chief blasts 'lack of compassion' for Palestinians in Gaza
-
Trump administration expected to say greenhouse gases aren't harmful
-
Hamilton suffers unprecedented spinning knockout in Belgian GP sprint qualifying
-
European powers urge end to Gaza 'humanitarian catastrophe'
-
Messi, Alba suspended over MLS All-Star no-show: league
-
RB's Permane returns as team boss at Belgian GP two years after sacking
-
Trump says '50/50 chance' of US-EU trade deal
-
Top US Justice official meets with Epstein accomplice for 2nd day
-
Mekies makes retaining Verstappen his Red Bull priority
-
Pogacar exits Alps with Tour stranglehold as Arensman edges white-knuckle win
-
Piastri takes pole for Belgian GP sprint race ahead of Verstappen
-
UK, France, Germany say Gaza 'humanitarian catastrophe must end now'
-
Stock markets mark time as Trump puts EU-US trade deal at 50/50
-
Pogacar exits Alps with Tour stranglehold as Arensman takes stage
-
France defends move to recognise Palestinian state
-
Trade on agenda as Trump heads to Scotland for diplomacy and golf
-
France's top court annuls arrest warrant against Syria's Assad
-
How might Trump's tariffs hurt Brazil?
-
Rubiales forced kiss could drive Spain on in Euro 2025 final: England's Toone
-
Trump says Hamas 'didn't want' Gaza deal as talks break down
-
Tour de France prankster gets eight-month suspended term for crossing finish line
-
Root climbs to second on all-time Test list as England dominate India
-
Stock markets stall as Trump puts EU-US trade deal at 50/50
-
UK starts online checks to stop children accessing harmful content
-
Root up to third on all-time Test list as England dominate India
-
Piastri outpaces Verstappen in opening practice at Belgian GP
-
Cambodian evacuees sheltering in temple pray for end to Thai clashes
-
French car dealer charged over Takata air bag injury
-
Iran meets European powers amid threats of UN sanctions snapback
-
Meta to ban political ads in EU due to bloc's 'unworkable' rules
RBGPF | -1.52% | 73.88 | $ | |
RELX | -1.86% | 52.73 | $ | |
NGG | -0.11% | 72.15 | $ | |
SCS | 0.66% | 10.58 | $ | |
VOD | -0.79% | 11.43 | $ | |
GSK | -0.68% | 37.97 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.24% | 22.485 | $ | |
RIO | -1.16% | 63.1 | $ | |
AZN | -1.4% | 72.66 | $ | |
SCU | 0% | 12.72 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.3% | 13.2 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.17% | 22.89 | $ | |
BTI | -0.71% | 52.25 | $ | |
BCC | 1.94% | 88.14 | $ | |
BCE | -0.95% | 24.2 | $ | |
JRI | -0.46% | 13.09 | $ | |
BP | 0.22% | 32.2 | $ |

University tragedy brings to light 'dinosaur' student issue
After four people died in a Bolivian university stampede, an investigation into the role of a 52-year-old student has relaunched the debate over "dinosaur" students who never graduate.
On May 9, someone provoked panic in a crowded amphitheatre when they threw a tear gas grenade during a student assembly at the Tomas Frias university in the southern city of Potosi.
Four people died and 70 were injured in the ensuing stampede.
Soon after, it was revealed that student union leader Max Mendoza, 52, had played a part in organizing the assembly, sparking further controversy.
In his 33 years as a student, Mendoza has never graduated, claimed legislator Hector Arce, who brandished a notebook of the union leader's marks: since 1989 he had failed more than 200 subjects and received a grade of zero more than 100 times.
The president of the Bolivian University Confederation, Mendoza is alleged to have called the student general assembly in a bid to promote the interest of fellow leaders loyal to him.
The meeting turned fractious before the smoke bomb was thrown.
Mendoza was placed in pre-trial detention on May 21, accused of several offenses including abuse of office and embezzlement.
- 'Freeloaders' -
But Mendoza's case is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the thousands of "dinosaurs" staying on seemingly forever at university.
The term has been used for years in universities before it caught on at a national level, says Beymar Quisberth, a sociology student at the San Francisco Xabier university in Sucre.
According to local media, many student leaders drag out their studies in order to maintain their roles and keep the associated benefits.
It is free to attend public universities in Bolivia, and students receive discounted health care.
But students also take on management roles that include salaries.
Mendoza pockets a monthly salary of 21,869 bolivianos (around $3,150), similar to that of a rector, for his role as head of the executive committee that coordinates Bolivia's higher education institutions.
Another person accused of being a "dinosaur," Alvaro Quelali, 37, is a student leader at the San Andres university in La Paz and has apparently been studying for 20 years.
In Bolivia "it's a business being a university manager. Why study (and graduate) when you have so many benefits," said Arce.
Many students have jobs and professions outside of university and merely register as a student in order to maintain their benefits, with no intention of actually studying.
Even if they fail the final exams, they can repeat the trick the next year.
"They're freeloaders, it's a disgrace," said Gabriela Paz, 20, a student at the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences.
"These people stay at university to keep receiving handouts," added Mateo Siles, 21.
- 'Deep crisis' -
San Andres university rector Oscar Heredia says it is not just student leaders but also ordinary students who remain at university for many years.
Of the university's more than 81,000 students, 23 percent have been there more than 11 years and 6.7 percent more than 20 years.
One thousand have even been there more than 30 years and around 100 more than 40 years.
"It's something that worries us, but it's a broad issue," Heredia told AFP.
Karen Apaza, an engineering student at San Andres, says she is campaigning against "these dinosaurs who live off the university for more than 20 years."
It is a familiar scene around the country.
The Gabriel Rene Moreno university in the city of Santa Cruz has 90,000 students, of whom three percent have been there more than 10 years.
Guido Zambrana, the professor of medicine at San Andres, says it is important "to recognize that we are going through a deep crisis."
He says it's time to wipe the slate clean and "dismantle the whole structure of corruption, bad management and the co-management (between students and teachers) that has been deteriorating for decades."
"University is obsolete, it's anachronistic and does not meet the current needs" of Bolivia.
N.Fournier--BTB