The Education Ministry has prepared 26 measures and changes in university education and research and wants to introduce them this year, stated the Ministry's head Peter Plavčan, adding that changes in the accreditation system of universities, stricter criteria for assessment of university research activities as well as support for the grant system are among the measures. "As for the number of faculties and the number of students, we talked about some admission limits for certain study programmes," said Plavčan. The minister assumes that admission into universities will become more difficult in the future.
The Education Ministry also penned 37 tasks for regional education. The ministry intends to introduce measures that would lead to a cut in the number of teacher training colleges. This threatens to reduce the number of newly qualified teachers. Among other measures, the ministry also plans to make changes concerning the responsibilities of head teachers, to increase teaching programmes for children aged three and up, in areas of high unemployment, and in excluded communities and to increase support for physical education, sport and free time activities. The Ministerial document further states that teachers' salaries should rise by 6 percent each year, which is in line with the pledge made in the Government Manifesto. However, teachers and their trade unions are disappointed with the Ministry's proposals for pay rises, Pravda daily reports. Teachers plan to stick to their guns, noting that they are still on a strike alert. Their unions and party organisations declared in February that salaries should rise by 25 percent this year and then by 10 percent every year after that.
