Universities talk about increasing tuition fees

The rectors of Moldovan universities cannot say for sure if tuition fees will increase once the institutions switch to financial autonomy in 2013. Most of the rectors told Info-Prim Neo that they considered increasing the fees, but no decision was taken yet because of the numerous risks such a move implies. The first pro-rector of the “Ion Creanga” Pedagogical University Mihail Grosu said that the university incurs yearly expenses of 15,000 lei per student, while the fees begin from 2000 lei. Although the expenses are high, tuition fees cannot rise suddenly, because the university will lose its students. “When we switch to self-financing, we’ll have to find how to sustain a student. Here, at the pedagogical specialization, we charge the lowest fees. If we increase them, nobody will apply, but otherwise, I don’t see how we’ll cover the expenses”. Vasile Vrancean, first pro-rector of the State Agrarian University of Moldova, told Info-Prim Neo that after January 1, 2013, when the law regarding the universities’ financial autonomy comes into effect, the university might go into debt. “So far, we’ve coped well. We’ll see”. According to Vrancean, the university will do other activities such as researches and consultations in order to obtain money. The expenses for students include money for the upkeep of class blocks, of labs that need modern equipment and chemicals, of dormitories, the payment of utility bills and so on. The rector of the State University of Moldova Gheorghe Ciocanu said that the increase of tuition fees dependent of the needs for training specialists. “This is a competence of the senate, but the increase of fees must be coordinated with the Ministry and with the Government. The tuition fee must be based on quality and this quality must be appreciated. For 2012-2013 the fees will remain the same”. According to the Ministry of Finance, which came up with the initiative regarding the financial autonomy of universities, the tuition fees in higher education will be set by university senates and councils for strategic development, in coordination with the Ministry of Education. The law reads that the professors’ wages will be regulated separately and approved through the decision of the Government. The expenses for scholarships will be covered by the state. Minister of Education Maia Sandu said that universities won’t be allowed to charge exaggerate fees because they will have to follow some regulations. The financial autonomy of universities was introduced in the Law on Education in July 2012, but will come into effect on January 1, 2013. Moldova has over 40 universities.