The thought of inexpensive dormitories, announced by Poland 2050, raises increasing emotions among students and politicians. Waiting for the electoral promise to be fulfilled is becoming increasingly difficult, and frustration is increasing even among the coalitions of the government. The "Academic for Gold" program was expected to relieve students, but there are inactive no specifics about its implementation.
Barbara Grygorcewicz, associate of the Civic Coalition, was among those who decided to address the issue in the public forum. She has directed an interview to the Ministry of discipline and Higher Education, which is managed by Dariusz Wieczorek of the Left. Grygorcevicz criticized the approach of the resort, which suggests that first the renovation of dormitories should be carried out before the rental price simplification program is implemented.
"I believe that the request to refurbish any of the student homes is not an obstacle to lowering prices according to the planned programme of the “Academy for Gold” in those dormitories that do not require urgent renovation," wrote the MP.
She besides pointed out that current rental prices are a major financial burden for students, especially those little prosperous.
Grygorcewicz wanted to know erstwhile the ministry planned to launch a program to reduce rental prices and to what degree it would be implemented.
Ministry of Autonomy and Repair
However, the answer of the Ministry of discipline caused rather a surprise. The hotel reported that the current government does not give the Minister the power to find the amount of fees for renting dormitories. The decisions in this case stay the work of the higher education institutions, which are autonomous and themselves govern the rules for the allocation of seats and the amount of fees.
The Ministry stated that it was the university authorities, not the ministry, that have a decisive influence on price policy. "The amount of fees for accommodation in student housing, accommodation regulations and the mode and criteria of granting seats stay within the statutory autonomy of the university," explained the ministry.
The hotel besides tried to calm the situation by pointing to another activities that could ‘indirectly’ affect prices in dormitories. The Ministry mentions investments in refurbishment and construction of fresh dormitories, which aims to keep charges at a "low level". However, students pay now and prices in dormitories go up. presently the lowest area rental prices are about PLN 500 per month, but in many cases they are even higher.
Is the "Academic for Gold" Programme inactive Real Perspective?
Poland 2050 has repeatedly emphasised that the "Academic for Gold" programme is 1 of the priorities, and Deputy Minister of Science, Andrzej Szeptycki, assured in July that the task could enter into force since 2025. The cost of this initiative for the state budget is estimated at around PLN 700-800 million per year.
However, despite these announcements, there are no authoritative decisions yet, and Minister Dariusz Wieczorek admitted that the full concept requires an accurate calculation of the costs and possibilities for reimbursement to universities.
Students are waiting for circumstantial actions, while with each period the rent fees in dormitories increase. Will the promise of inexpensive places in student homes be achieved, or will it stay just a slogan from the campaign?
Read more: Oceania ship without funding. Polish discipline in crisis?
independent.pl/PAP/mn
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