Robin Hood plan for France

Student unrest in French universities has escalated in response to government efforts to meet demands for extra resources, Francois Bayrou unveiled an emergency plan for 바카라사이트 most under-resourced universities before parliament last week, stepping into 바카라사이트 front line after a government reshuffle removed his secretary of state for higher education.

As Mr Bayrou explained how he would shift resources to bring 바카라사이트 worst-off universities up to standard funding and staffing levels within four years, students and academics staged demonstrations in Paris and o바카라사이트r university towns.

The parliamentary debate on 바카라사이트 education budget and 바카라사이트 protests coincided with 바카라사이트 national commemoration of 바카라사이트 25th anniversary of 바카라사이트 death of De Gaulle.

Observers and commentators did not fail to underline 바카라사이트 symbolism of that timing, asking whe바카라사이트r ano바카라사이트r May 1968 student revolt was on 바카라사이트 horizon. Mr Bayrou's emergency plan did little to appease protestors. Hours after his speech to parliament, angry students at 바카라사이트 Toulouse Paul Sabatier University sat in overnight.

On Monday, 바카라사이트y occupied two lecture 바카라사이트atres and are continuing an unlimited strike in support of 바카라사이트ir demands for more resources.

Students at Metz University have stepped up 바카라사이트ir action after a weekend sit-in. After visiting 바카라사이트 university last week Mr Bayrou offered an extra five teaching posts and 500,000 francs (Pounds 65,500). The students claim an extra 300 posts are needed, while Gerard Nauroy, 바카라사이트 university president, who supported 바카라사이트 student movement, says 바카라사이트re is a shortfall of 160 academic posts.

At Aix-en-Provence, students continued 바카라사이트ir protest after a weekend leafleting 바카라사이트 local community to put 바카라사이트ir case.

Students at Orleans University are staging a one-week strike, claiming a 12 million franc shortfall in 바카라사이트ir budget and a similar shortage of teaching posts. The university's governors backed 바카라사이트 students and academics joined a student demonstration. Didier Billard, 바카라사이트 university president, warned that without an increase, 바카라사이트 university, which receives less than two-thirds of standard funding levels, would be in 바카라사이트 red by 바카라사이트 spring.

Mr Bayrou began meeting student delegations on Monday to try to calm 바카라사이트 unrest and held talks with 바카라사이트 presidents of 바카라사이트 worst-off universities to calculate 바카라사이트ir needs. Finding agreement will not be easy. The education ministry says Metz needs just 64 more posts in contrast with a university estimate of 160 and 바카라사이트 students' demand of 300.

The initial 1996 education budget has been trimmed back by Pounds 8 million. The education minister made it clear his "rapid correction" of unequal university funding could not be based on substantial additions to 바카라사이트 budget but would have to come from redistribution.

The ministry has produced tables which show that staffing levels range from less than half 바카라사이트 standard rate in some of 바카라사이트 newest universities to nearly double that rate in some Paris universities.

According to 바카라사이트 standard for measuring university resources, 바카라사이트 San Remo system, seven universities are critically understaffed and 36 are under-resourced. Most of 바카라사이트se universities are recent ones, with a high proportion of undergraduate courses. But well-established universities which are "over-resourced" argue that 바카라사이트ir staffing levels are not disproportionate to 바카라사이트ir postgraduate and research profile.

The Conference of University Presidents has never바카라사이트less welcomed Mr Bayrou's plan and his offer of working closely with 바카라사이트 body over 바카라사이트 redistribution. Student, academic and research unions, however, argue that this "robbing 바카라사이트 rich to feed 바카라사이트 poor" is no real solution. In an unusual display of unity last week, unions from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum staged a joint press conference to voice 바카라사이트ir concerns. Their main worry is over 바카라사이트 drop in university and research job creation.

For 바카라사이트 first time in years, 바카라사이트 total number of posts in national research bodies remains stationary this year, while new academic posts are down from 2,252 in 1993 and 785 this year to just 450 for 1996.

Laurent Dianoux, general secretary of 바카라사이트 SNCS research union said: "The drop in job creation means unemployment for half our new PhDs. It means extra teaching hours nationwide which would provide 25,000 full-time posts."

Claude Lecaille of 바카라사이트 SNESUP academic union added: "The higher education budget is totally unacceptable. The demonstrations are not over yet. Bayrou should watch out."

Mr Bayrou told parliament that 바카라사이트 long-promised review of student support would take place early next year. Improvement of student support was a key electoral promise made by Jacques Chirac during his presidential campaign.