Universities threatened to close doors in protest, government urgently allocated funds

After the Council of Rectors expressed readiness for protest and universities shutdown on May 20, the caretaker government allocated 39 million BGN for the salaries of lecturers and workers in higher education establishments. The money was voted with the current budget. However, a further 184 million is being sought after MPs passed changes to the Higher Education Act, but no money has been provided. The managements of the higher educational establishments met the President and the Prime Minister on May 15.

State Universities announced readiness to protest, President and PM to talk to Rectors' Council about their demands

A promised and unfulfilled salary increase by the state raised the discontent of the universities. By amending the Higher Education Act, rules were adopted that tie the money provided from the state budget for education and science to a certain minimum percentage.

Assoc. Prof. Hristo Berov - Faculty of History, Sofia University: "The Ministry of Finance simply refuses to implement the law. On the grounds that there is no money."

Forty four rectors of Bulgarian universities signed the protest letter with demands: first - the rectors demand an average salary for the teaching staff at state universities equivalent to not less than 180% of the gross average national wage And second: that the minimum basic salary for the lowest teaching position should not be less than 125 per cent of the gross average national wage.

Assoc.Prof. Hristo Berov - Faculty of History, Sofia University: "An assistant professor who is just starting work - that means a 25-27 to 30 year old person, in many cases who has just started a family, it is very difficult to attract such a person with a starting basic salary of 1,800 BGN."

The decision came from the caretaker cabinet. The government will provide 39 million BGN for academic staff salaries starting from January 1, 2024. Thus, the remuneration for the lowest academic post will increase by BGN 290.

Galin Tsokov – caretaker minister of education and science: "In proportion to this, the salaries of the rest of the academic staff will increase."

The caretaker government provides BGN 39 million for salary increases in state higher education establishments.

Dimitar Glavchev - caretaker Prime Minister: "We have proposed that the remuneration of the rest of the non-academic staff in the higher education establishments be increased by 12%. I think we have solved another problem today, you already know that it is inherited (from previous government)."

Earlier, President Rumen Radev met with rectors and said that he was deeply worried by the processes that have taken place recently in higher education in the country.

Images by BTA, BGNES

"In my opinion, we should not come to this. Not for anything else, but this is not a good signal to the outside and to our society. Because the parties that changed the Constitution put forward a new Article 23, that education, science and culture are a supreme national value, but forgot to change the budget or unintentionally omitted to do so. And this already raises a number of doubts about the sincerity of these strong words written in the Bulgarian Constitution. I fully support you in your demand." President Radev said.

Prof. Dr. Miglena Temelkova, Chairman of the Council of Rectors: "For years Bulgarian higher education sector has been underfunded, which for me also means neglected by the political power in the country."

Iliana Iotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria: "The previous government declared Bulgarian education as its priority above priorities and yet there was a Prime Minister who should have been from your circles, is there such a cruel neglect of higher education in the country?"

The President assured that he would talk to the Prime Minister.

On May 14, in an open letter circulated by the Council of Rectors, the Rectors said that all state universities, along with some private establishments, will be closed on May 20 in protest against the government's failure to fulfill its obligations outlined in the Higher Education Law.

An extraordinary Council of Rectors is due to meet on Friday to decide what their next course of action should be.