ID :
187447
Thu, 06/09/2011 - 12:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/187447
The shortlink copeid
Major university presidents lukewarm toward tuition cut drive
(ATTN: TYPO in byline; ADDS photo)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- Presidents of major South Korean universities said Thursday they cannot drastically cut tuition fees without extra budget support from the government, effectively opposing a parliamentary drive to slash tuition costs by as much as half amid a looming student walkout.
There is a widespread consensus between rival parties over the need to cut college tuition fees to woo voters ahead of next year's major elections, though they are divided over to what extent to implement the cuts that would require an enormous budget.
On Thursday, leaders of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) held a meeting with the chiefs of the nation's 12 major universities to collect their opinions about a proposed plan to halve tuition prices.
"Their point was that if the government first provides some financial aid, then universities can make efforts to curb tuition costs," DP spokesman Lee Yong-sup said during a briefing. "But they said it is difficult to cut tuitions by half all of a sudden and that tuitions need to be lowered gradually."
The issue of tuition is highly sensitive in a country where student bodies nationwide annually protest against tuition raises, with some students shaving their heads or forcibly occupying the offices of university presidents.
Some university presidents suggested tax breaks to companies that offer donations to universities, Lee said, while others questioned the need for universal benefits for all higher education institutions out of concerns that taxpayers' money could be used to save uncompetitive schools.
Regarding the DP's plan to cut tuitions at state-funded universities, they expressed concern over the widening tuition gap between public and private institutions, Lee said.
In South Korea, 80 percent of higher education institutions are operated by private foundations that rely heavily on tuition fees for revenue, according to the Center for Education Information and Disclosure.
Hundreds of college students, parents and activists have been holding candlelight vigils in downtown Seoul in the past 10 days, also joined by some opposition lawmakers and celebrities.
The wave of protests is likely to reach a peak as student bodies of about 400 universities nationwide have vowed to walk out of Friday afternoon classes and take to the streets to call on the government to drag down the expensive education costs.
Police said they will limit the number of protesters to 500 in designated areas in downtown Seoul, vowing to sternly deal with illegal protests.
"Concerns have been rising as prolonged illegal protests by some college associations have caused traffic jams, causing inconveniences to people," the chief of the Seoul Regional Police Agency, Lee Sung-gyu, said at a briefing. "People wouldn't approve of activities threatening public order at night."
ejkim@yna.co.kr
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- Presidents of major South Korean universities said Thursday they cannot drastically cut tuition fees without extra budget support from the government, effectively opposing a parliamentary drive to slash tuition costs by as much as half amid a looming student walkout.
There is a widespread consensus between rival parties over the need to cut college tuition fees to woo voters ahead of next year's major elections, though they are divided over to what extent to implement the cuts that would require an enormous budget.
On Thursday, leaders of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) held a meeting with the chiefs of the nation's 12 major universities to collect their opinions about a proposed plan to halve tuition prices.
"Their point was that if the government first provides some financial aid, then universities can make efforts to curb tuition costs," DP spokesman Lee Yong-sup said during a briefing. "But they said it is difficult to cut tuitions by half all of a sudden and that tuitions need to be lowered gradually."
The issue of tuition is highly sensitive in a country where student bodies nationwide annually protest against tuition raises, with some students shaving their heads or forcibly occupying the offices of university presidents.
Some university presidents suggested tax breaks to companies that offer donations to universities, Lee said, while others questioned the need for universal benefits for all higher education institutions out of concerns that taxpayers' money could be used to save uncompetitive schools.
Regarding the DP's plan to cut tuitions at state-funded universities, they expressed concern over the widening tuition gap between public and private institutions, Lee said.
In South Korea, 80 percent of higher education institutions are operated by private foundations that rely heavily on tuition fees for revenue, according to the Center for Education Information and Disclosure.
Hundreds of college students, parents and activists have been holding candlelight vigils in downtown Seoul in the past 10 days, also joined by some opposition lawmakers and celebrities.
The wave of protests is likely to reach a peak as student bodies of about 400 universities nationwide have vowed to walk out of Friday afternoon classes and take to the streets to call on the government to drag down the expensive education costs.
Police said they will limit the number of protesters to 500 in designated areas in downtown Seoul, vowing to sternly deal with illegal protests.
"Concerns have been rising as prolonged illegal protests by some college associations have caused traffic jams, causing inconveniences to people," the chief of the Seoul Regional Police Agency, Lee Sung-gyu, said at a briefing. "People wouldn't approve of activities threatening public order at night."
ejkim@yna.co.kr
