The Russian top does not intend to drastically cut the number of higher educational establishments by administrative measures, reassured the minister. A current reform envisages stringent monitoring. An institution found below standard will have to either improve or close or, again, merge with another.
The reform also means a hierarchic arrangement. Educational establishments will be conventionally divided in three leagues. The higher will comprise ten to twenty universities of a national scope, which make the backbone of the Russian educational network. Next will come a hundred to hundred and fifty powerful system-building universities close to the first league. The third league will train experts for the national economy and, at the same time, help students up the social ladder-an essential service to the community.
Universities will be classified on criteria established through teamwork of the Education Ministry, educational establishments and members of the public. The minister made special stress on the latter point.
Mr. Fursenko deems it urgent to increase educational allocations. Present-day student grants make, on the average, a mere half of sums necessary for sheer survival, he pointed out with reference to expert estimates.
It will be entirely wrong, however, to enhance funding without streamlining the entire educational system, warned the minister.
