Brussels, 06/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the European Students Union (ESU) has spoken out against the increase in registration fees in several Bulgarian universities. Ten thousand students took to the streets last week in a number of Bulgarian cities, most notably Sofia, to protest against the rise in admission fees by between 8% and 33% at certain universities. They also denounce the continued limited representation of students within governing bodies of higher education establishments (15% student representation rather than the 30% authorised by the law). Students have thus joined the ranks of the discontent in Bulgaria. A vast social protest movement is under way in the country over decisions recently made by the government. It was pressure of this kind which forced the Prime Minister, Boiko Borisov, to step down on 20 February.
The ESU stresses that cuts in education budgets, due to the economic crisis, are not a solution. Quite the reverse; education will play a decisive role in a return to growth, by giving young people the skills they need for the social and economic development of the societies of tomorrow. “Bulgaria might fall behind on the EU 2020 targets, which, together with a high unemployment rate and excessive youth migration, draws a grim picture for the country in the next few decades”, warns ESU President, Karina Ufert. (IL/transl.fl)