The right to free university education in Ecuador: compliance and legal challenges

Abstract

The right to free university education in Ecuador constitutes an essential foundation for promoting equality of opportunities and access to quality higher education. However, despite the legislative advances and public policies implemented in recent years, there are significant challenges to overcome to achieve its effective compliance. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the factors that influence access to higher education in Ecuador and propose strategic actions and public policies that allow for the broadening and facilitation of equitable entry of students into universities, considering the existing socioeconomic, academic, and administrative barriers. The research was conducted under a qualitative approach. For data collection, the documentary analysis technique was used, and a structured interview guide consisting of five questions was employed as a data collection tool, which was applied to three expert participants previously selected. It is concluded that the factors that fundamentally negatively affect access to free higher education are the need for funding to make improvements in infrastructure, insufficient material and teaching support for low-income students, economic difficulties, and the digital divide in the most vulnerable sectors, especially in the rural areas of the country. It is urgent to increase funding and improve the efficient management of public universities to ensure quality higher education that is inclusive and aligned with the needs of the country.