Political party asks Government to cancel university admission quotas

The Liberal Party (PL) demands that the Government cancel the university admission quotas set in 2006. The party criticizes the executive for its interference in the activity of education establishments as this is against the constitutional principles, Info-Prim Neo reports. At a news conference on August 4, the PL president Mihai Ghimpu said that the holders of secondary school graduation certificates are disadvantaged in the admission process. They are offered only 15% of the total number of places in higher educational institutions. The other places are reserved for holders of Baccalaureate diplomas. “This way, the authorities promote quantitative and non-qualitative approaches to studies. As a result, more capable young people would migrate abroad,” Mihai Ghimpu said. According to Roman Andries, a member of the PL Standing Bureau, the Government must guarantee and respect the autonomy of all the educational establishments as this will contribute to higher competitiveness and quality of the academic environment, while the general development of the education system in Moldova will be encouraged. The Liberal Party also says that the young people from families affected by floods should be provided with places financed from the state budget for the whole period of studies, free places in dormitories, bonuses to scholarships and substantial allowances. The state authorities should also offer them advantages when traveling by public transport and implement other measures aimed at helping the young people living in the inundated areas. The party did not specify how many scholarships and how much money will be needed for these purposes.