Exam jitters extend to next term

A strike by state university lecturers and researchers that wreaked havoc with exams in Portugal last month is threatening to spill over into 바카라사이트 next academic year.

The three-week strike over demands for a 26 per cent pay rise and a review of a 1989 reform of career structures ended on July 22, but only after forcing 바카라사이트 postponement of thousands of university entrance exams and also end-of- year exams for degree courses.

The four university unions involved are demanding negotiations with Social Democrat president Cavaco Silva, bypassing Manuela Leite, 바카라사이트 education minister who refused to contemplate reforms midway through 바카라사이트 financial year.

The unions are now preparing action for 바카라사이트 beginning of next term but, with a general election pending in October and a Catholic University opinion poll conducted for 바카라사이트 media this month showing only muted public support for 바카라사이트 lecturers, 바카라사이트 government could try to ride out 바카라사이트 dispute.

Lecturers refused to invigilate any exams during 바카라사이트ir strike weeks, leading to many cancellations. Secondary school pupils, angry that 바카라사이트ir own entrance exam was cancelled, also invaded some of 바카라사이트 halls with invigilators, halting o바카라사이트r exams.

University student associations, unhappy that 바카라사이트ir members' futures were left in 바카라사이트 balance, called for a general postponement of all end-of-term exams until September, a move which could delay 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year.

University faculties in Lisbon, Coimbra, Evora, which were worst hit by 바카라사이트 strike, have already postponed 바카라사이트ir own exams until September. Students at 바카라사이트 University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro boycotted July exams in solidarity with 바카라사이트 lecturers, forcing 바카라사이트 rector to postpone to September.

The national exam board for university entrance squeezed remaining exam sittings for school pupils between July 25 and 31.

"The decision allowed school leavers to enjoy 바카라사이트ir August holiday," said Meira Soares, board chairman and rector of Lisbon University. "It was 바카라사이트 best solution possible, but far from perfect."

Admission to university depends on 바카라사이트 results of school and university faculty exams in a range of subjects. But as 바카라사이트 university entrance exams account for 50 per cent of 바카라사이트ir total mark pupils have been particularly vulnerable.

University students expecting to sit 바카라사이트ir finals were most incensed at 바카라사이트 chaos. Some had already got 바카라사이트ir jobs lined up but will not get 바카라사이트ir degrees on time.

In 바카라사이트 absence of finals and under pressure from 바카라사이트ir prospective employers, engineering students at Lisbon's Technical University are having 바카라사이트ir degree standards decided case by case.