“March Of Students” To Be Held In Minsk Today

The march is scheduled for 13:50 and is to take place in front of the building of the Belarusian State University’s administration.

In most European countries students are perhaps among the most active fighters for their rights, while the Belarusian authorities do not listen to their students yet. But for the first time in many years they are trying to prove to the officials that they have a right for their own opinion, the authorities should listen to. Today the March of Students, who are dissatisfied with imposing fees for repeating of tests and exams is to be held in Minsk. The main rally is planned in front of the building of the the Belarusian State University’s administration, the TV channel Belsat reports.

Not everyone has decided whether to take part in the students’ march or not. However, the vast majority of the Belarusian State University students openly support it.

“Fees for repeating of tests and exams shouldn’t be introduced. The sums of tuition fees allegedly include fees for repeating of tests,” – a student stressed.

We remind that the controversy between the students and the administration of the BSU arose after the plans to impose fees for repeating of tests and exams were announced at the university. University students were outraged at such a prospect. Students have gathered over 2500 signatures against the innovations, and protest groups emerged in social networks. The participants expressed their intention to file a complaint against the university with the Prosecutor's Office, if fees for repeating of tests and exams are introduced.

Despite the protests of November 12, the rector of the Belarusian State University has signed a regulation on taking fees for repeating of tests and exams.

In response, activists have planned to hold a March of Students in Minsk on December 2. From 300 to 500 people are expected to join it. On November 26 on the website of the event the rector of the university was invited to the march.

“This has not been happening over the past 10 years. The students’ movement within the university has been in a frail condition. Students’ self-government has been under control. In principle, this is a precedent, – says Ales Krot, a representative of the organisation Students’ Council. – The university is trying to quell students’ activity. As far as I know, tomorrow at 13.00 they are holding a rally or a meeting in opposition to the one the students have planned.”

The situation with fees for resitting of tests and exams is not new for Belarus. Earlier it had been introduced in other universities. As a rule, these decisions of administrations were passed without regard to capabilities and opinions of students themselves. The former first vice-rector of the European Humanities University and a member of the Bologna Public Committee is convinced of that.

“A university does not mean a rector. It is the entire academic community. It is professors and students. When passing such decisions, different opinions should be taken into account Uladzimir Dunaeu from the Bologna Public Committee said.

And the conflict with students could mean international repercussions. In particular, it could create problems for functioning in the Bologna process – the European space of higher education – for Belarus.

“There is a road map, according to which Belarus obliged to realize key academic values, including students’ participation in governing universities. If Belarus is going to violate its commitments so openly, it is not excluded that some kind of reaction from Europe is to follow,” – noted Uladzimir Dunaeu.

That is why the leadership of the university and the whole scientific system of Belarus are facing a serious exam today. And it would be very difficult to retake it.