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Students Rally at Peru’s Finance Ministry Over Funding for 20,000 Beca 18 Scholarships

Talks at the Economy Ministry have yet to secure the budget promised for the expanded call.

Overview

  • Dozens of applicants protested outside the MEF in Lima, pressing the government to guarantee financing for the full 20,000 Beca 18 scholarships.
  • A parallel technical meeting brought together MEF officials, the head of Congress’s Budget Commission, and Education authorities to identify funding sources after acknowledging the budget is not fully secured.
  • Pronabec said it is awaiting an executive decision, and student groups warned of escalated actions if no clear funding roadmap is presented, raising concerns for the 2026 contest.
  • Red Nacional de Juventudes leader Antoni Ramos alleged the Education sector relegated new scholarships in its priorities and redirected roughly 70% of funds to payroll, claims that contradict earlier explanations and have not been independently verified.
  • Youth leaders also cited delayed publication of the Beca 18 preselected list and suspended Beca Permanencia stipends affecting about 2,100 public university students, noting a reported S/83 million transfer to cover 2025 liabilities.