Ufac suspends undergraduate classes due to the public transport crisis in Rio Branco

Ufac students protest against the crisis in public transport in Rio Branco Lucas Thadeu/Rede Amazônica Undergraduate classes at the Federal University of Acre (Ufac) were suspended due to the crisis in public transport in Rio Branco. The decision was taken this Wednesday (15), in a meeting between the Rectory, teachers and student representatives, given the difficulties faced by students in getting to campus. According to the document approved at the meeting, obtained by g1, the suspension must be maintained until a minimum circulation of 66 vehicles on urban transport lines is ensured. ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp Currently, there are 39 buses in operation and a further 20 vehicles are expected to be added to the current fleet by Saturday (18). Despite the suspension of classes, the University Restaurant (RU) will continue to operate normally until August 11th. From August 12th, the service will be under the responsibility of the new rectory. Ufac students demand atypical semester and solutions for mobility READ MORE: Ufac students approve strike after crisis in public transport in Rio Branco Public transport crisis: Less than half of the fleet operates in Rio Branco; see lines Passengers face delays after seizure of part of the bus fleet in Rio Branco: 'We want a solution' The suspension comes after a sequence of demonstrations promoted by university students, who demand solutions for the capital's public transport and claim that many students stopped attending classes because they were unable to get to campus. "Academic measures must be adopted to ensure the resumption of activities and avoid losses to students who, due to transportation difficulties, were unable to participate in the activities carried out until the date of suspension", adds the document signed by Rector Guida Aquino. The document also highlights that the first academic semester of 2026 will be characterized as atypical and that the delivery of teaching activities will be taken into account as a measure of student attendance. In addition, it also guarantees students the right to completely or partially withdraw from enrollment without future academic loss. "The characterization of the First Academic Semester of the year 2026 as atypical aims to preserve the academic rights of the student community in the face of the public transport crisis, not constituting a basis for replacing face-to-face activities with remote teaching or for changing the modality of offering face-to-face courses", he added. Protests On Tuesday (14), students once again protested at the entrance to Ufac with posters and banners criticizing the public transport system. Among the main demands was the adoption of an atypical academic semester, as a way of avoiding losses to students affected by the crisis. The previous day, Monday (13), the movement also held a protest in front of Rio Branco City Hall. During the demonstration, videos shared on social media showed moments of tension, with pushing and shoving between students and municipal employees. In one of the recordings, a student is pushed and falls to the floor. (See below) After the episode, City Hall informed, in a note, that it respects the right to demonstrate, but stated that it does not condone the invasion of public buildings and attacks. According to the municipal Executive, a committee of students had already scheduled a time to be received when part of the protesters tried to enter the building by force. Students protest in the center of Rio Branco in front of City Hall Also on Monday, representatives from City Hall, the Municipal Transport and Traffic Superintendence (RBTrans), the Rectory of Ufac, the State Court of Auditors (TCE-AC) and the student movement participated in a meeting to discuss emergency measures for public transport. At the time, RBTrans informed that it had begun negotiations with the company responsible for the service to expand, on an emergency basis, the fleet of lines that serve Ufac and the Federal Institute of Acre (Ifac), especially during times of greatest demand. Also on Monday, Ufac released a statement condemning the attacks recorded during the protest in front of city hall. The university classified the students' mobilization as a legitimate demand for dignified conditions of access and permanence in higher education and stated that any episode of violence during the exercise of the right to demonstrate was unacceptable. Ufac students return to protest against the crisis in public transport in Rio Branco this Tuesday (14) Lucas Thadeu/Rede Amazônica Understand the crisis in public transport in Rio Branco Rio Branco has faced a more intense crisis in public transport since the end of June, after part of the Ricco Transportes e Turismo fleet was seized by court decision. Since last Monday (6), the capital has operated with just 39 buses in circulation, equivalent to around 41% of the fleet of 94 vehicles considered necessary to meet the city's entire demand. The reduction caused long queues at stops, crowded buses and an increase in passenger waiting times, affecting thousands of users, including students from Ufac and the Federal Institute of Acre (Ifac). To mitigate the impacts, the Municipal Transport and Traffic Superintendency (RBTrans) informed that the operation should be reinforced with another 20 buses by next Saturday (18). According to superintendent Marcos Roberto Coutinho, Ricco was notified to expand the fleet and should put 10 new vehicles into circulation between Tuesday (14) and Wednesday (15). ? SEE which lines operate in Rio Branco At the same time, Rio Branco City Hall continues the transition process for JTP Transportes, Serviços, Gestão e Recursos Humanos Ltda., a company hired on an emergency basis to take over public transport in the capital. The contract lasts for one year and provides for a transition period of up to 90 days. In the meantime, Ricco will continue operating while the new company structures the garage, implements the electronic ticketing system and prepares the definitive start of operations. Review Acre’s news programs