Student Union demands education minister resignation

Dec 24, 2009
Oskars Magone

The union said next year's budget cuts would have an impact on the quality of eduction in the country. (Photo: LSA)

RIGA - The Latvian Student Union (LSA) has demanded the resignation of Education and Science Minister Tatjana Koke over budget cuts to higher education next year.

"Government grants to universities in the 2010 budget was reduced by 10 million. Such massive reduction in funding will have an inevitable result on course quality," the union said in a press release.

"It will be at risk that those young people who can not afford to study on their own resources will not have access to higher education in Latvian," the union said. 

The LSA also objected to a series of higher education reforms that have been backed by the minister.

Koke has pressed a plan that will see only one state-funded science university in the country.

The higher education budget already suffered a 43 percent decrease in the autumn semester of this year.

"LSA believes that Minister Koke has to assume political responsibility for what is currently happening in higher education and science in Latvia, so this week LSA will present a formal resignation request," the organization said. 

SOCIAL BOOKMARKS:   Delicious   Digg   Reddit   Ask   Facebook   MrWong   Netvouz