Italian students and lecturers protest reform plans

Italy MapRome - Italian university students and lecturers staged demonstrations Friday in several cities around the country against government plans to streamline Italy's tertiary education sector.

The protests which have the support of two of the four main labour union confederations, and most of Italy's centre-left opposition, included a march through the streets of Rome.

Police strengthened security around parliament's lower house Chamber of Deputies where some protestors threatened to stage an unauthorized rally.

Many banners and placards carried by demonstrators targeted Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini who has been spearheading the planned reforms.

These include slashing the number of courses, and in some cases faculties, at state run universities and a proposal to lower retirement age of lecturers from 72 to 70.

Also planned is an overhaul of the selection and hiring procedures for lecturers and researchers.

Opponents say the proposed bills are just a way for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's conservative government to place some of the burden of state cost-cutting plans on the education sector.

But the government says the measures are necessary to combat inefficiencies in Italy's universities.

Statistics cited in Italian media show that some 37 courses have but one student while 327 faculties have fewer than 15. Critics say these are created merely to give jobs to relatives or friends of the senior professors who run the universities.

The dropout rate at Italian universities of 55 per cent is one of the highest in developed countries. (dpa)

General: 
Regions: