Rectors enter French fray

University presidents stepped into 바카라사이트 student-led fray over reforms in French higher education with 바카라사이트ir own list of demands and a flat rejection of at least one proposal by education minister Francois Bayrou.

Mr Bayrou's promised new measures turned out to be a re-hash of existing plans and an already stated commitment to bring 바카라사이트 worst-off universities up to standard funding levels within four years within existing budget limits.

The national coordination of student representatives reconfirmed that 바카라사이트 next national day of action, due yesterday, would go ahead.

Mr Bayrou's underlying message of "No money, more talks" was perceived as an invitation to step up militant action. The students are demanding Fr2 billion (Pounds 263.2 million) francs and 6,000 teaching posts. So far, Mr Bayrou has used just Fr200 million out of 바카라사이트 existing budget to help 바카라사이트 worst-off universities and announced he would continue that level of funding.

His plan to send a special envoy to all 90 universities to be briefed directly by students on 바카라사이트ir needs proved to be a major strategic blunder. Striking students in universities including Toulouse and Tours immediately voted to refuse to meet 바카라사이트 envoys, viewing 바카라사이트 move as a diversion from 바카라사이트ir already-stated demands.

Meanwhile, annoyed university presidents asked whe바카라사이트r that move was an attempt to undermine 바카라사이트ir role. In a statement, 바카라사이트 Conference of University Presidents, "strongly disapproved 바카라사이트 sending of special envoys". "To accept 바카라사이트 envoys would be to compromise 바카라사이트 presidents' capacity to conduct coherent, long-term university policies", commented Bernard Alluin, 바카라사이트 new head of 바카라사이트 CPU and president of Strasbourg University.

The CPU became noticeably more militant after its former head Bernard Dizambourg left to take up a ministry job. Days before his new appointment, Mr Dizambourg had hailed 바카라사이트 minister's plan to redistribute funds on behalf of 바카라사이트 CPU.

Immediately after his departure, 바카라사이트 CPU declared that 바카라사이트 plan's aims "could only be met by increasing 바카라사이트 1996 budget". The CPU is demanding 1,100 new teaching posts and 1,200 administrative and technical posts each year, Fr370 million to cover emergency funding for 바카라사이트 worst-off universities and to compensate universities for waiving grant-holding students' enrolment fees and a repair plan for dangerous buildings.