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He spoke about this at a press conference on Tuesday.
According to her, public funding per student is currently one of the lowest among the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
“We are twice the average,” he said. “If we look even more deeply, at specific universities in our neighborhood, and compare them with Lithuanian universities, the differences would be even greater,” said the Education Minister.
According to data from the Ministry, in 2017, the state allocated 4,272 euros per student in Lithuania, while the OECD average was 9,393 euros.
In addition to the proposed increase in state funding per pupil, the goal is to reduce the number of groups by which tuition rates are grouped.
Now there are 8 of them, and the prices in the lowest groups are unjustifiably lagging behind others. The gap between the highest and lowest price is more than 9 times.
“If we look at our OECD countries and the European Union countries, we will see that these differences are much smaller. In Lithuania, we have had this problem for a long time. It had to be addressed a long time ago.
Therefore, tomorrow we intend to make that decision by merging and reducing the groups of study fields from 8 to 5. It would also allow, create more opportunities, guarantee interdisciplinary studies, interdisciplinary studies ”, said J.Šiugždinienė.
Photo by Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min / Jurgita Šiugždinienė
However, he emphasized that the most important objective of this proposal was the preconditions to strengthen the quality of the studies.
“We will not strengthen the quality of studies if our funding per student is one of the lowest among OECD countries.” It is extremely important for us to compete with other countries for students, “he said.
The price will go up a quarter.
If the state allocates more funds to fund higher education for students, tuition fees will also increase for those students who will have to pay for higher education themselves.
Vice Minister Gintautas Jakštas pointed out that currently funding for a student in Lithuania reaches around 4 thousand. euros.
“Current offerings would convert to about 25 percent going forward. Price increase, but it will happen on a constant basis. <...> for those who have already joined, the funding does not change, “he said.
According to the vice minister, the cost of studies could increase by an average of a quarter over the next 4-5 years.
He will also propose to reduce the number of state-funded places in universities and colleges by about 1,000 next year.
According to G.Jakštas, about 12 thousand. places.
Photo by Josvydas Elinskas / 15min / Gintautas Jakštas
Lithuanian Student Union: the decision is hasty
However, LSS is concerned that these changes are being implemented too hastily and could negatively affect study availability and have other consequences.
“By increasing the normative tuition rate, fewer state-funded (VF) study places are planned, which will elementally reduce the availability of state-funded studies for those who meet the minimum admission requirements for VF places “said Eigirdas Sarkanas, director of the VMS. in higher education, the requirements remain the same.
– And the normative tuition rate is basically “linked” to the tuition rate established by the institution of higher education itself. This means that they will be forced to increase tuition fees for those students who intend to study on their own.
Photo from personal archive / Eigirdas Sarkanas
In addition, LSS pointed out that according to the Law of Sciences and Studies, the deadline to approve the normative tuition fees is January 15 of the current year. And now we are at the end of January.
Still, the ministry doesn’t see the problem here.
“As you know, the government changed just before the new year, we really wanted to discuss this decision and have at least a minimal opportunity to consult and discuss it with the main social partners, that is, universities, the student association itself and the Directors Association. of schools. It is better to give time to the discussion “, emphasized the minister.
For us, competing with other states for students is extremely important.
According to J.Šiugždinienė, decisions on the normative tuition fee were delayed earlier.
“It just came to our attention then. At the same time, we will propose to postpone this date because it is a very poor date, January 15. immediately after the holidays, where it is really very difficult to have enough time for discussions and presentations,” he said.
We can not wait any longer
When asked if the proposal was not presented too early and if we should not wait another year, as requested by the VMS, the minister said that the current system is flawed and cannot wait any longer.
“I don’t know if we can afford to wait another year calmly without changing this flawed situation,” he asked rhetorically.
I don’t know if we can afford to wait another year in peace without changing this poor situation.
“We are in no rush anywhere, it is a solution that has matured for a long time. <...> In fact, during the period when study baskets were introduced, those groups became very fragmented and the distribution into study price groups remained very unclear as new programs emerged that were added to one or another price group. study for various reasons.
That system lost its meaning and purpose, and that connection had to be established a long time ago. We connect with the European space, it is difficult for us to cooperate with foreign universities and establish interdisciplinary programs between us. Therefore, that decision was not something new or very unexpected, “he said.
VIDEO: Minister of Education J.Šiugždinienė: how funding for higher education will be increased
He also highlighted that these changes are just the beginning of everything we can look forward to in the future.
“But that’s really just the first step. Since the beginning of February, we have been creating a working group specifically to review the funding model, and a really more analysis and review is needed here, not only in the study part, but also in science. It will definitely take a month or two, ”said the Minister of Education, Science and Sports during the press conference.
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