Italian parliament approves contentious university reforms

Thu, 23 Dec 2010

Rome - Italy's parliament on Thursday gave final approval to a university reform package featuring controversial budget cuts that have triggered widespread and sometimes violent protests.

The upper-house Senate voted 161-98 to approve the bill, which was tabled by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's conservative government.

The lower-house Chamber of Deputies had already given its approval to the legislation earlier this month.

The reforms include cutting funds to faculties and courses that the government says attract only a few students and drain resources from other more vital areas of study.

But critics, including the center-left opposition, had argued that they will make less funds available for research projects and other investments that universities have to make to guarantee high standards of education.

On Wednesday, thousands of students gathered in streets and squares around Italy for protests that led to scuffles with police and the disruption of traffic in Rome and several other cities.

Similar demonstrations last week had also led to dozens of injuries and several million euros in damage in the Italian capital after clashes between leftists and security forces.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/359498,approves-contentious-university-reforms.html.