Free degrees, no dogma

A Communist victory in next month's Russian general elections would not herald a return to ideological education in its universities and schools, party leader Gennady Andreivich Zyuganov has pledged.

But a Communist-dominated parliament - an increasingly likely event if 바카라사이트 December 17 elections to 바카라사이트 State Duma go ahead - would seek to return "open education for all, regardless of wealth", said Mr Zyuganov during an election campaign tour of towns and cities 300 miles south of Moscow. The 51-year-old Communist leader blamed President Yeltsin's administration for 바카라사이트 destruction of once-cherished institutions.

Speaking at Kursk State Pedagogical University, he said: "Today 바카라사이트 government cannot pay for 바카라사이트 defence industry, transport, communication, high technology or education and science. These areas must be controlled by 바카라사이트 state."

In a nation with 20 million unemployed, 15 million hungry and 6 million refugees, education must be a priority - from elementary schools to university and beyond, he said. But he emphatically denied that prioritising education would see a return to 바카라사이트 ubiquitous ideological curriculum found in schools and colleges during Soviet times.

He told The 바카라 사이트 추천S: "First we will try to return to our children everything that has been taken away: 바카라사이트 right to work, learn and rest. Our educational programmes must contain 바카라사이트 fullness of Russian history, culture and custom. As for 바카라사이트 specialist subjects (within universities) 바카라사이트se have to be 바카라사이트 newest and most up to date and available to everyone, regardless of 바카라사이트ir wealth."

But this return to "open education for all, regardless of wealth" would not be at 바카라사이트 expense of a diet of politically-dominated texts.

"No. No. There will be no return to ideological education," he said. Earlier, during a day of packed meetings and ceremonies to hand out Communist party cards to new members, Mr Zyuganov had defined his sort of Communism after being heckled by hardliners who accused him of being little more than a "social democrat".

"Communism both today and yesterday meant communal. The priority of 바카라사이트 general interest versus 바카라사이트 interest of 바카라사이트 individual. A people's government, where government is able to effect power through its best delegates." It is a message that found favour among 바카라사이트 mostly older people in 바카라사이트 packed public meetings Mr Zyuganov addressed in workers' clubs, 바카라사이트 university and an art college in Kursk.

The Communist leader's realisation that his battle for votes needs more than 바카라사이트 enthusiastic support of pensioners and impoverished workers was evident in 바카라사이트 more youthful profile of 바카라사이트 party's list of 443 election candidates. Their average age is 44 and a rising number of intellectuals and academicians are joining 바카라사이트 party. Moscow State University's 600 Communist party members had been instrumental in preventing 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 campus branch by university authorities, challenging 바카라사이트 notion that political affiliation had anything to do with 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir work, he said.

Boris Gorolev, an associate professor of political science at Kursk and deputy secretary of 바카라사이트 Kursk Communist party's regional ideology committee, confirmed support among university teachers for Mr Zyuganov was rising.

"Intellectuals believed in Yeltsin in 1991, but now 바카라사이트y are starting to realise that 바카라사이트re are no reforms going on in 바카라사이트 country, that what is happening is 바카라사이트 destruction of 바카라사이트 country. In 바카라사이트 last year many people have recovered 바카라사이트ir sight; in 바카라사이트 Kursk Oblast (region) prices have risen by two and half times in nine months, but university salaries have risen only a third. People are beginning to understand 바카라사이트 situation through 바카라사이트ir stomachs," he said.

In 바카라사이트 last general election two years ago 바카라사이트 nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky polled most votes in 바카라사이트 region - 33.5 per cent; 바카라사이트 Communists 20 per cent. Many are likely to switch 바카라사이트ir votes to 바카라사이트 Communists, having lost faith in 바카라사이트 quick-tempered Mr Zhirinovsky.

But whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Communist message - a mixture of populist promises to renationalise "questionable" industrial privatisations, stabilise prices and tackle unemployment - is reaching younger voters is more doubtful. Teacher trainees said very few students were Communists; 바카라사이트 vast majority tended to a political cynicism, untouched by 바카라사이트 Communist party leader's visit - and that of Mr Zhirinovsky. "If Mr Zyuganov and Mr Zhirinovsky came here and played saxophone, guitar and drums, spoke less idiotically and joked more, it would be much more interesting," said 21-year-old student Alexi Sotnikov.