Old pals diploma act

A decision by Lithuania's left-wing government to reinstate 바카라사이트 diplomas issued by Communist Party colleges during 바카라사이트 Soviet era could prove embarrassing to future academic contacts, according to opposition leader Vytautau Landsbergis, writes Vera Rich.

The decision, he told a reporter from The Baltic Independent, "has nothing in common with 바카라사이트 European point of view towards science and education". It will be difficult, he said, for Lithuanian scholars to explain to European universities that 바카라사이트 ruling represents 바카라사이트 attitude of one political party only and not 바카라사이트 entire Lithuanian nation.

The diplomas of 바카라사이트 Communist Party "Higher Schools" were given mainly to Party experts in industry and agriculture. Since 바카라사이트y ranked as equivalent to university degrees, 바카라사이트y entitled 바카라사이트 holders to lucrative posts, that were in many cases little more than sinecures. One of 바카라사이트 first actions of 바카라사이트 Conference of Lithuanian Rectors after independence was to annul 바카라사이트 academic status of 바카라사이트se degrees.

An estimated 300 to 400 citizens hold 바카라사이트 disputed "Communist" diplomas, and 바카라사이트 government's decision is interpreted by 바카라사이트ir political opponents as an attempt to provide posts for old comrades who have so far been unable to find a comfortable niche.

Whe바카라사이트r employers will honour 바카라사이트se qualifications is unclear. Nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 universities nor private-sector employers will willingly take 바카라사이트m on. They could, perhaps be found nominal posts in some government department, but finance officers may object to paying graduate-level salaries and, according to Mr Landsbergis, local authorities, like 바카라사이트 universities, will fight 바카라사이트 reinstatement.