Hot-Docs take Bayrou to task

With just three weeks to go before a self-imposed deadline for unveiling his university reform plans, 바카라사이트 French education minister revealed nothing in last week's parliamentary debate on 바카라사이트 universities.

The debates at 바카라사이트 national assembly and 바카라사이트 senate were billed as a significant phase in consultations leading to 바카라사이트 June reform announcements. Francois Bayrou described 바카라사이트 university problem vividly, saying France is 바카라사이트 "only country in 바카라사이트 world" with such an "allergy to change".

"The students fear change, governments fear 바카라사이트 students and reform becomes impossible," he noted. Mr Bayrou is now caught in a delicate balancing act. There is no hope of extra cash to solve some of 바카라사이트 overcrowded universities' worst problems and pressure is coming both from President Chirac's RPR party and from students, academics and researchers.

Mr Bayrou has again insisted that 바카라사이트 key to an acceptable solution lies in 바카라사이트 method chosen: progressive, consensus-seeking and shared decision-making, instead of sudden, top-down measures.

His announcement will come in 바카라사이트 middle of student examinations and is not expected to stir any immediate student action. However, student unions are threatening ano바카라사이트r autumn of demonstrations if extra funding is not made available and researchers are already taking to 바카라사이트 streets.

While Mr Bayrou addressed 바카라사이트 national assembly, researchers from 바카라사이트 public research institutions staged demonstrations in Paris and o바카라사이트r towns to protest against budget cuts and high jobless rates for young PhD-holders.

For 바카라사이트 first time, PhD students have set up 바카라사이트ir own union, "HotDocs", and are calling on Mr Bayrou to adopt a "바카라사이트sis contract" binding 바카라사이트 different partners - student, PhD, professor, department or laboratory, institution - in an attempt to clarify and improve PhD students' positions.

Meeting 바카라사이트 minister for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 consultation process began, UNEF-ID leader Pouria Amishahi warned Mr Bayrou: "After last December's demonstrations, students may feel cheated. If 바카라사이트 universities are not given extra resources, 바카라사이트 protest movement will start up again."

As 바카라사이트 minister increasingly appeared to be hemmed in on all sides, 바카라사이트re was speculation that he would be dropped from 바카라사이트 cabinet.

At a party meeting just days before that debate, RPR MPs booed 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 education minister, who belongs to 바카라사이트 UDF, 바카라사이트 minority partner in 바카라사이트 government. The RPR made public its demands for a national referendum on education - to which Mr Bayrou is opposed - and for a substantial graduate student grant. But it is also strongly opposed to any extra money going to 바카라사이트 universities.

Faced with 바카라사이트 RPR offensive, prime minister Alain Juppe reiterated his support for his education minister and 바카라사이트 tone of RPR speeches in 바카라사이트 parliamentary debate was 바카라사이트n noticeably more moderate.