Ukrainian Students Protest Higher Education Bill

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Ukrainian students are protesting draft legislation on higher education, arguing that it will lead to the commercialization of education. Our Kyiv correspondents bring us this report.

"Knowledge is not a commodity, our universities are not for sale!"

With this slogan Ukrainian students protest outside the Presidential Administration building.

[...]

In their view the proposed legislation commercializes education. The bill states scholarships will be higher and payments for studying will be fixed.

[Eugene Gensirovsky, Student Protester]:
"The scholarship will increase, but the number of people who will receive it will decrease. For me, I'm on a budget -- it's a very big deal for me. Also I worry that schools will be able to raise tuition fees whenever they want, without dialogue."

Some teachers join the protest, demanding higher wages and reduced pressure.

[...]

The Ministry's official website states that proposals made by student organizations are taken into account, and that the rally is provoking and manipulating public opinion.

The All-Ukrainian student council agrees with the standpoint of the Ministry, and held its own rally to support the bill.

[Anastasia Sabova, Representative, All-Ukrainian Student Council]:
"I believe that students should research first, and not just come to protest. I think that those student organizations that are currently active in the field of education, must sit at the negotiating table, negotiate and communicate their position."

But, on May 13th the representatives of the student and youth organizations - not the all-Ukrainian student council - came out of the meetings with the Ministry, saying the talks had failed.

Students are now handing over their requirements directly to the Presidential Administration and the Cabinet of Ministers.

NTD News, Kyiv, Ukraine