FOUR UNIVERSITIES’ COMMON LETTER TO GYURCSÁNY

There is a growing tension in universities for the compulsory dismissals.

The council of the Faculty of Science of Eötvös University openly faces the rector and the deans of the Faculties of Science of the four greatest universities have turned to Premier Gyurcsány in an open letter. On March 7 the council of the Faculty of Science of Eötvös University (ELTE) decided to stick to the former regulations of the university in spite of the measures taken by the new commissioner. István Klinghammer, rector of ELTE finds the decision of the faculty council ’childish’ but said though he thought the measures were not fair the financial problems must be tackled somehow. There are severe lay-offs planned in Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, and Gödöllő. The Democratic Trade Union of Teachers has also called on Bálint Magyar, Minister of Education to revise the amendment of the law of education which has increased the overtaxing of teachers.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó