Academic crisis ends; universities to launch school year Sunday
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, finance, education ministers manage to avert universities' strike in nick of time. Academic institutions to receive $125 million in additional funds
The academic school year at universities and higher education institutions will begin on Sunday, as scheduled. The decision followed a meeting held between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On, Education Minister Yuli Tamir and university heads at the PM’s office.
In a talk with Ynet, Minister Tamir lauded what she referred to as a "huge achievement," saying she can "finally sleep at night."
"Overall, heads of academic institutions got what they wanted," Tamir said. "The higher education system will enjoy an added budget of nearly one billion shekels (roughly $260 million) following all the agreements that have been signed this year. That's a huge achievement."
Olmert ruled that the budget increase for the universities will stand at NIS 465 million ($125 million), with an additional NIS 50 million ($14 million) in development funds, which would be subject to the Education Minister Yuli Tamir's supervision.
“The government sees great importance in higher education, fostering excellence in Israeli society and returning scientists and researchers from worldwide academic institutions (back to Israel),” said Olmert after the meeting.
Representing the faculty were Hebrew University President and Council of University Heads Chairman Prof. Menachem Megidor, and President of Bar-Ilan University Prof. Moshe Kaveh.
Also present were Head of the Higher Education Council's Budget Committee, Prof. Shlomo Grossman, and Director General of the Council for Higher Education and VATAT (the planning and budgeting committee), Steven Stav.
Special Olmert-initiated meeting (Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO)
Once news of the decision spread, National Student Union Chairman Boaz Toporovsky said that “we are happy the school year is beginning as planned and that some of the budget, which was cut over the last few years, was returned to higher education. I hope that now it will be possible to find a long-term and all-inclusive solution for the system.”
A source at the Council of University Heads said that the academic body “thanks the prime minister and appreciates his involvement bringing this crisis to its end. We expect an official statement from the finance minister reaffirming the agreement.”
At the beginning of the meeting, Olmert said that “the negotiations need to be conducted between the sides without my intervention. However, today's meeting was called in order to reach a decision. I understand the existing problems, but the students at all of Israel’s institutions need to start the school year on Sunday.”
Wednesday's meeting between finance representatives and those from the higher education system adjourned a mere 30 minutes after beginning, in light of claims made by the Finance Ministry, suggesting the university presidents have up the antics. Both sides left the meeting reporting their differences were irreconcilable.
Yaheli Moran Zelikovich contributed to the report
