site.btaUniversity Students Protest Higher Education Act Amendments due to Tuition Fee Hike

Students from Sofia and other cities across the country protested under the motto "Education is a right, not a privilege" in front of the Parliament building on Thursday.

“The amendments cannot solve the problem 40,000 students in the country, currently affected by the lack of long-term policy in the field of higher education, face,” Aleksandar Tanev, a law student, said at the protest. Tanev is enrolled in the paid university programme at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski.

“This is a student protest, organized with the efforts and resources of the students themselves. All financial expenses were covered solely by them,” Tanev added.

The protesters oppose the vote on the amendments to the Higher Education Act, which, according to them, do not truly address the deepening crisis in the sector.

“In our opinion, the decision made by the parliamentary Committee on Education and Science in no way corresponds to the scale and depth of the crisis we are facing. These are not solutions that can satisfy us,” Tanev said.

The protesters believe that the proposed cap on tuition fee increases, up to 40%, is insufficient. The lack of a long-term strategy is making it impossible for tens of thousands of students to continue their education, Tanev said. He voiced concern that if the proposed changes are adopted, they will have a negative impact on Bulgarian higher education.

Co-floor leader of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov and Velichie floor leader Ivelin Mihaylov showed support for the students.

On July 9, students once again took to the streets to protest against the amendments to the Higher Education Act passed at first reading by the National Assembly. The proposed bill envisions reducing tuition fees for self-funded education. The bill was adopted with 148 votes in favour, 11 against, and 11 abstentions.

According to the reasoning behind the bill, the increase in state subsidies, a key component in the formula for determining tuition fees, has led to a situation where, in some cases, tuition fees match or even exceed those in many universities in Western Europe and North America. This far exceeds the financial capabilities not only of Bulgarian prospective students and PhD candidates but now also of international students.