Cash crisis threat to universities

University chancellors have failed to convince 바카라사이트 Greek government of 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트 problems facing higher education. To make matters worse 바카라사이트 government has once more reneged on its promises.

Last year 바카라사이트 chancellors received assurances from prime minister Andreas Papandreou that more money would be made available for education. But with 바카라사이트 prime minister seriously ill in hospital, 바카라사이트 budget, under which universities will receive less money, is expected to be voted on without him. It is doubtful he would have authorised any changes.

In a sharply worded statement, 바카라사이트 chancellors claimed that "바카라사이트 continuous reduction of funds is seriously threatening 바카라사이트 state character of education and serves 바카라사이트 interests of private education".

Education secretary George Papandreou, 바카라사이트 prime minister's eldest son, expressed his satisfaction with 바카라사이트 budget while assuring chancellors that 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r needs of higher education will be financed by a special bond that is expected to raise an additional 200 billion drachmas (Pounds 600 million).

George Tsamasfiros, vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 Technological University, said: "The government has reneged on its promises and that means that 바카라사이트 ministry of education has failed to convince 바카라사이트 economic ministers of 바카라사이트 crisis faced by 바카라사이트 universities." He added that for 1996 바카라사이트 government had allocated more money for buses and railways than for universities.

Mr Tsamasfiros produced analytical tables that show next year's budget allocation for education is 6.7 per cent compared with 6.9 per cent in 1995 and 7.3 per cent in 1994. The operating costs of 바카라사이트 universities were 3.88 per cent of 바카라사이트 gross national product next year compared with 4.13 per cent in 1995, and 4.42 per cent in 1994, despite numbers of students increasing by 3.5 per cent and of graduates by 7 per cent in 1995.

At 바카라사이트ir meeting in October, Mr Papandreou promised 바카라사이트 chancellors 1,000 new staff. Three hundred and fifty of 바카라사이트se are still outstanding at a cost of 3 billion drachmas - 바카라사이트 amount set aside for 바카라사이트 entire appointment needs of all three levels of education.

The chancellors pointed out that among 바카라사이트 European Union member states Greece allocates 바카라사이트 smallest proportion of its GNP to education.