Students’ Associations protest against additional taxes required for living in hostels

The Union of Communist Youth (UCT alliance of Students of Moldova and Association of Transnistrian Students will request for the dismissal of the rectors of certain institutions of the Republic of Moldova, as well they will organize “other forms of civilized protests” in case until September 1 they will not cancel the additional taxes paid by students for living in hostels. UCT chairman Grigore Petrenco declared on Tuesday, at a press conference that as result of the campaign “Give our money back”, which started in June students’ associations noted that the administrations of certain education institutions showed only incapacity to solve students’ problems and irresponsible attitude towards them. According to Petrenco, certain education institutions reacted promptly to students’ claims and the Pedagogic University ”Alecu Russo” of Balti decided to recalculate the accommodation taxes in students’ campuses with students’ involvement in the process. The intention of the Zootechnical College of Bratuseni to start a dialogue on this issue was also welcomed. At the same time, they showed very unpleased by the lack of any reaction or concrete actions on behalf of other 10 education institutions: technical University, Academy of Economic Studies, University of Comrat, the Colleges of Transport, Informatics, Ecology, Microelectronics, Medicine of Orhei, Pedagogic of Calarasi, Polytechnic of Chisinau, etc., applying increased tariffs despite the governmental decision on approving tariffs for students’ hostels. The students’ associations also required to education institutions to create decent living conditions, showers and kitchens, as well as prohibiting additional taxes, repairing the rooms on the account of the institutions and not of the students’ etc. Students’ Associations published a brochure where they included the taxes paid by students compared to real costs, as well as the amount of money the education institutions owe to the students. Thus, according to the presented information, the additional taxes paid to the education institutions vary between 51 and 715 lei.