International Student Movement

This year Wroclaw took part in the Global Week of Action for emancipating education.

We set up two info-points we called “Cities for Critical Education” – one on the campus of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the other on the Market Square, the very centre of the city. Some of us dressed up as restless butchers who shiv education and some in mourning, all in black ready for the funeral we handed out lots of leaflets presenting our postulates and talked with people that passed by our booths.

 We were also agitating to sign up petition letters to the authorities of the University of Wroclaw and Technical University. Most important issues we highlighted were:

- very low public expenditures for education (0,3% GDP !!!);

- difficult social situation of students – high maintenance costs, lack of dormitories;

- unsatisfying work conditions and wages of the university employees, academics as well as librarians, technical and administrative staff;

- abolition of any kinds of fees and charges at the university (neither for studies, nor for administrative operations);

- independence of universities from state’s policy and economical pressures.

Moreover, in May we plan to invite professors and other scholars to discuss current situation and possible ways of avoiding the dangerous consequences of performed policy. More details to come!