Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Fri, 20 Jan 1995 19:16:06 -0800 (PST)
Sender: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Housing Reform
Irina,
I am responding as an American who not too long ago lived in Russia, and
worked with representatives of the intelligentsia.
First, many university professors earn far more than the salaries
officially given. Those with valuable education in the sciences, finance,
business, and medicine earn high consulting fees with private businesses.
Second, higher education is no longer free and is de facto privatized. Students
must pay high fees and hire "private" tutors in order to be accepted into many
institutions.
Fortunately, there are so many avenues for bright young people to make money
(not just in crime) that private education is very affordable and popular. If
anything, higher education suffers now because young people are becoming wealthy
without it. This has forced most institutions to change their course offerings
and provide education more relevant to students who speak English and manage
their own businesses.
Russia's higher education system and its students are very capable of taking care of themselves, but elementary and middle schools are in a different situation. Here, teachers do not have the same opportunities to market themselves, or to charge fees for teaching. Younger students should not have to
sacrifice a basic education in order to survive by selling papers or washing
cars. As in most countries, this part of the educational system is and will
remain public, and should be helped.
Brenden West
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