Tuition and dorm fees won't be raised, Education Minister

Tuition and dormitory fees in Moldovan universities will not be raised, stated Education Minister Mihail Sleahtitchi at the Government's meeting on Wednesday, Info-Prim Neo reports. The statement was made after Prime Minister Vlad Filat requested explanations on reports that rectors were considering such a measure. Mihail Sleahtitchi said there were no reasons to raise fees and didn't understand where “these speculations” come from. Vlad Filat stated in this context that decisions concerning tuition fees in public universities are not adopted by the Ministry, but by the Government. He also requested the Ministry of Finance to present detailed information on state subsidies for higher education, on tuition fees asked by universities and on how appropriately these funds were being spent. Filat further advised ministers to provide accurate information when communicating with the general public to avoid misinterpretations and political speculation. At a Tuesday news conference organized by the Ministry of Education, a number of rectors said tuition fees in Moldova were low as compared with the universities' expenses.