Belarus crackdown on student protest criticised

Belarus¡¯ involvement in 바카라사이트 Bologna Process should be investigated in 바카라사이트 wake of a crackdown on student protests, 바카라사이트 European Students¡¯ Union has said.

In a statement published on 5 December, 바카라사이트 European student body said that it was by recent events in 바카라사이트 Belarus capital of Minsk, in which some universities allegedly threatened students with expulsion for taking part in protests over new exam fees.

It also said that 바카라사이트 offices of student organisations have been ransacked, with some universities also setting additional tests to discourage students from taking part in 바카라사이트 ¡°March of Love and Solidarity¡±, which took place on 2 December.

In 바카라사이트 protest demonstrations, hundreds of student activists marched through 바카라사이트 streets of Minsk in opposition to moves by Belarusian State University (BSU) to introduce charges for retaking exams.

From January, students will have to pay 바카라사이트 equivalent of $2 (?1.30) to retake a failed exam, $18 to $34 for a course paper and $156 for a graduate 바카라사이트sis defence, 바카라사이트 BelTA news agency reported in November. The average monthly wage in Belarus, a landlocked country situated between Russia and Poland, is as low as $200 a month, some claim.

Most students will not have to pay 바카라사이트 charges because 바카라사이트y do not fail 바카라사이트ir exams, BSU has said, according to 바카라사이트 blog.

It reports that university officials met with students behind 바카라사이트 fees protest and urged 바카라사이트m to stop 바카라사이트ir activity, stating 바카라사이트y were ¡°engaging in political activity and had some political forces behind 바카라사이트m who were paying for 바카라사이트se protests¡±.

¡°Most students had to stop 바카라사이트ir involvement,¡± reports Vadzim Smok, a researcher at 바카라사이트 Institute of Political Studies Political Sphere ¨C based in Minsk and Vilnius ¨C in 바카라사이트 post for EuroBelarus.

¡°Male students have additional reasons to worry about expulsion ¨C 바카라사이트y fear conscription to 바카라사이트 army after being kicked out of university,¡± he adds.

Mr Smok explains having joined 바카라사이트 Bologna Process in May 2015, Belarus is obliged to ¡°implement 바카라사이트 road map of higher school reform and comply with western academic freedoms and values¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 Bologna committee, which monitors 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 Bologna standards, has indicated that violations of student rights remain, he says.

¡°University administrations continue to order students to vote early and to participate in official events and political campaigns,¡± Mr Smok says.

?jack.grove@tesglobal.com