Sandra Ramirez, former partner of the legendary FARC leader Manuel Marulanda Velez (“Tirofijo”), has received a specialist degree in Human and Organizational Development. The achievement is noteworthy given that she is a former member of the guerrilla group that demobilized in 2016 as part of a commitment to peace. However, questions have emerged regarding the institution that awarded her the degree: the Fundación de Educacion Superior San Jose.
“I’M HAPPY! Today, with great pride, I share with Colombia that I have received my degree […]. This is thanks to the Peace Agreement and my unwavering commitment to Colombia. I will continue working for my country and its people,” Ramirez wrote enthusiastically on social media platform X, with the name of the educational institution visible behind her.
An institution under scrutiny
Ramirez’s academic milestone comes as a boost following her recent defeat in legislative elections, in which she failed to secure reelection to the Senate representing the Comunes party — formed by former FARC members as part of the 2016 peace agreement.
However, the celebration may be short-lived. Jennifer Pedraza — who was elected in the same elections — has raised doubts about the validity of Ramírez’s degree and has been instrumental in exposing alleged irregularities at the Fundación de Educación Superior San Jose. One of the most prominent cases involves Juliana Guerrero, the young woman whom President Gustavo Petro had sought to appoint as vice minister for Youth at the Ministry of Equality.
Following Pedraza’s complaints, the institution acknowledged that it granted Guerrero degrees in accounting technology and professional accounting without her meeting legal requirements. In connection with that case, prosecutors charged Guerrero and former secretary general Luis Carlos Gutiérrez with procedural fraud and falsification of a public document.
The most recent remarks on the matter came from Education Minister Daniel Rojas during a press conference in early March. “I would not dare to give a definitive answer regarding the closure [of the institution] because due process must be respected, and I must be cautious given that the investigation is ongoing. However, what I can say is that San José has other types of irregularities that require us to deepen administrative sanction proceedings,” he said.
Ramirez’s degree called into question
Now, Pedraza has also cast doubt on Ramirez’s degree. “How long will the San Jose institution continue granting potentially irregular degrees right under the nose of Education Minister Daniel Rojas?” she wrote on X. “San Jose does not have an agreement to offer this program [the one awarded to Ramirez], which actually belongs to UniReformada (SNIES). In other words, the senator’s degree is likely irregular. More and more people are being misled by this ‘university.’”
Neither the Fundación de Educacion Superior San José nor Minister Rojas immediately responded to Pedraza’s claims, which once again raise concerns that the institution may still be issuing degrees under questionable conditions.