Political interventions in education cause instability, study

The governmental policies on university education affected the stability and functionality of the education system, shows the study “Impact of Central Public Authorities’ Policies on the University System in Moldova” carried out by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative (IDIS) “Viitorul”. The study was presented during a public debate meeting on May 27, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the authors of the research, the executive’s decision to set an admission quota for higher education institutions generated a number of serious financial and social problems that hinder the development of the university education and the study process. During the last three years alone, the universities in Moldova failed to collect about 400 million lei. The teachers and students try to adjust even if there are no feasible alternatives. The university autonomy is restricted, even in private universities, the study says. The authors of the study – lecturer Cornel Ciurea and researcher Leonid Litra – say that in 2005 the Government of Moldova initiated a policy aimed at combating the university expansion process. Cornel Ciurea considers that the invoked shortages on the labor market are not a serious reason for regulating the flow of students as, in a real economy, the market law prevails over the state planning. Furthermore, the decisions could be based on political reasons. “The authorities imitate Eastern models and seem to be inconvenienced by the growing public activism among young people with higher education,” the study authors said. Leonid Litra says that by hindering the universities in their activity, Moldova isolates itself from its European commitments. The authorities do not want to hear the concerns expressed by the civil society, university lecturers and even political parties. The institutions have to cut teachers’ salaries as the budgets are lower than the previous years. “Some teachers want to change their qualifications even if there are no alternatives. This impacts the quality of the study process,” Leonid Litra added. The authors of the study recommend the authorities not to take politically motivated decisions. The state must give up its restrictive admission plans, institute a model based on tuition fees, provide awards to socially vulnerable students and increase the allocations from the budget. The experts also recommend involving the students and teachers in decision making.