Pedagogues attack demagogues

Rectors of higher education institutions have criticized a Ministry of Education document entitled 'Strategy for Development of the Polish Higher Educational System to 2010' and demanded greater urgency in amending the Higher Education Bill. The rectors think the strategy prepared by the Ministry is too general and tends to disregard the financial situation of colleges, demographic forecasts, the projected situation on the labor market and overall situation in the country after EU entry. Among the most urgent issues to be addressed are the relations between public and private schools as well as the financing of the sector as a whole. The rectors were also alarmed by the government's plan to reduce spending on scientific research over the next two years. The motion on the part of the schools spurred Deputy Education Minister Tomasz Goban-Klas to reply, "It is impossible to prepare a good bill without prior strategic objectives." (Rzeczpospolita, p. A7) J.K.