site.btaEducation Minister: No Grounds for Tuition Fee Hike After Amendments to Higher Education Act Pass

There will be no grounds for increasing fees for students in self-funded programmes once Parliament passes the amendments to the Higher Education Act, Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev told reporters in Parliament on Wednesday. 

Later on Wednesday, MPs are expected to vote at first reading on amendments to the Higher Education Act aimed at preventing a surge in university fees.

“We hope the amendments will be adopted by the end of July. In any case, they will enter into force in the next academic year. There will be no administrative grounds to raise tuition fees for students in paid programmes,” the Minister said.

A student protest is scheduled in Sofia on Wednesday over increased tuition fees for paid programmes at universities.

On Tuesday, Valchev held a meeting with representatives of the Students Council and the Students’ Diplomatic Club at St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University to discuss the proposed legislative amendments aimed at capping tuition fees for self-funded programmes at 60% of the full cost.

On Monday, Valchev met with university rectors at the Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts, where he said that earlier warnings about increased state funding and existing legal provisions leading to higher fees for self-funded programmes had come true.