2024-02-29 07:09:19
There is no way that all state order students will be exempted from fees, because that will blow up the system. Discrimination is created because you put everyone on equal terms – those that you need for the gross domestic product and those that are not so necessary”, commented Prof. Dr. Liliana Valcheva from the “Higher Education” trade union at KNSB at a briefing at VTU.
According to her, it is not the fees, which are for administration and do not cover tuition, that are a problem for students, but their maintenance. In addition, there are protected specialties for which young people do not pay a fee. Out of 52 professional fields, 32 have zero fees for students.
“And when you come out without analyzing and without talking to rectors and unions, and say that there will be no fees, you violate so many texts in the law. You also violate the order concluded between business, the state and the university. And no one says where these 150 million BGN will come from. There is no way that all state-ordered students will be exempted from fees, because that will blow up the system,” she also commented.
The announcement that student fees will not be paid from the beginning of the year has caused chaos at many universities. It has led to an outflow, instead of attracting more students, because those who have not paid the summer semester will have to cancel.
According to data from the Syndicate, funds for higher education have decreased by BGN 326 million over the last three years, which means that the state itself is not complying with its laws. “As of today, we are supposed to receive BGN 50 million because of the complex assessment, but this money is not there. We are the most reformed system, only higher education has a complex evaluation, and we are under great stress,” pointed out Prof. Valcheva.
March will be a month of protests, she warned. If there is not enough money for higher education, trade unionists in the field are ready to march in front of the Ministry of Finance. “The lack of funds also threatens the academic year. “Unfortunately, higher education is not a government priority, but an ongoing experiment,” she said.
Unions in higher education are negotiating a starting salary of BGN 2,150 for an assistant. 26 rectors of state universities have already supported the idea.
The month of March will be a month of protests, warned Prof. Valcheva. If there is not enough money for higher education, trade unionists in the field are ready to march in front of the Ministry of Finance. “The lack of funds also threatens the academic year. “Unfortunately, higher education is not a government priority, but an ongoing experiment,” she said.