Increasing the cost of tuition fees at the Pridnestrovian State University: “for” and “against”

The Decree of the Government which establishes new marginal tariffs for the services of the Pridnestrovian State University for 2023 came into force on the 3rd of March. The cost of studying at the Pridnestrovian State University for contract students has increased. The management of the university obliged students who have already paid for both the first and second semesters to make an additional payment for tuition by May 1, otherwise students studying on a contractual basis are subject to expulsion. The amounts are different for each. For example, a student of the Faculty of Education needs to pay approximately 450 or 240 rubles, depending on the form of education, for other specialties and faculties – the amounts are higher – from 450 to 900 rubles. This caused bewilderment in the society.

The rector of the Taras Shevchenko Pridnestrovian State University Vladislav Sokolov, said in the course of the meeting of the Committee that the cost of education at the university arose due to the increase in teachers' salaries. This is spelled out in the republican budget for 2023. The salaries of the employees of the Pridnestrovian State University are paid from two sources – the state budget and a special fund, which is formed at the expense of paid services. Thus the situation has arisen where the salaries of teachers can be raised at the expense of the state budget, the amounts were laid down in the law on the budget, but not at the expense of the special fund. A little more than 3 million rubles is in deficit. This deficit was planned to be closed by increasing the cost of paid services for education. The deputies of the Committee expressed their comments and opinions, they consider that it was impossible to raise tuition fees in the middle of the academic year.

The deputies of the Committee proposed a number of solutions that would help both contract students to complete the academic year without additional payments, and university teachers to receive the increased payments required by law. The Government in the near future will discuss and calculate all options. Which one will be accepted will be decided soon. The Committee on Education, Public Associations and the Media recommended suspending until then the Government Decree and the order on additional payments for contract students of the Pridnestrovian State University.