A giant snowman has appeared in front of Warsaw University protesting against the ‘commercialization of public higher education’ in Poland.
Members of the Democratic Student Association (DZS), who built the snowman, claim that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education has not taken under consideration the real financial needs of the student community when preparing a broad reform of the academic system in Poland.
Students are protesting cuts in the education budget, resulting in fewer scholarships and grants.
The DZS is demanding universal access to free university studies and securing adequate conditions for students to be able to concentrate exclusively on their studies and not hunting for jobs or relying on expensive loans.
Monday evening saw a protest of Polish students in front of the British embassy in Warsaw as a sign of solidarity with their colleagues in the UK, who have been confronted by 300 percent rise in tuition costs, to be paid off as a debt when they begin their careers. (ss)