Honduras and the National University: a dynamic duo

Universities are part of the group of social organizations that play a fundamental role in society’s transformation. They foster individual intellect necessary for the modernization and democratization of the people.

This is where they provide the themes and values that assure social stability, services to communities in need and provide solutions to various and complex problems associated with the good and development of the country.

Intense competition exists between institutions of higher education in order to lure the brightest and best, the goal being to develop the best programs to educate students to eventually go on and through their professional work, contribute to the achievement of a free and fair society.

In other words, universities cannot exist parallel to society. They need one another; the external realities of life outside the university feed the university itself. It is necessary for them to interact, to intersect. Student and teachers live in the real world. How can the two worlds not be intertwined?

In the case of our own National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), during the 70’s and 80’s, it played a main role in all aspects of the national reality. The Cold War, the Maoist regime, the Nicaraguan Contra presence in Honduras, the training of the Salvadorian Army on Honduran territory, the Salvadorian Guerrillas, the Guatemalan crisis, all of these events where not indifferent to the UNAH youth. Major debates took place and concrete actions were taken, many young students were revolutionary in their attitudes, and silence was rare.

Student organizations were formed to address ideological themes of the day and, and to examine and criticize them as well. The names and voices of some of those students are recognized and still listened to today. Many of them have gone on to important government positions. Their experiences at UNAH molded and shaped them; the quality of their present day service confirms this.

Why don’t we see these students and their parties on campus now? The eternal conflict between the traditional political parties moved to UNAH: a rector of the 80’s, a Nationalist, literally made the student parties disap­pear, supported by the army. For many years, the lone student party was the United University Front (in Spanish, FUUD), known to be maintained by students of low academic performance, bribed by both teachers and administrative personnel who were closely associated with government authorities.

UNAH, as it defined by law, is an institution of excellence and employs some of the best teachers in Honduras. It cares about the development and promotion of science. There have been important structural changes that will allow UNAH to once again regain its important role in Honduran society.

UNAH is a source of hope for the people; people die without education. UNAH has trained many professionals, many of those, almost for free. Many of them do good work, but it is not enough: in addition to our work as professionals, our ALMA MATER commands us to be transformers.

Dear HTW:

An acquaintance recommended your newspaper to me not too long ago and I am now a regular reader of your publication. I am in the U.S. and my Spanish is rusty, so I appreciate being able to read and see pictures about Honduras. I will be in Honduras in May with a medical brigade and want to arrive knowing something about the country. Other members of the brigade at my church have also found the website useful as well and are grateful.

I want to thank you for ‘Honduras This Week,’ and please keep doing what you’re doing!

Yours truly,

Cynthia Conroy
Dallas, TX, USA
Via Internet

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