Sofia University Marks 122nd Anniversary amid Desperate Protests

Sofia University students and professors have been staging protests for nearly a month already over radical cuts in state funding. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The oldest high education institution in Bulgaria Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, established in 1888, marks November 25 122 years since its establishment.

Named after one of most prominent enlighteners of Bulgaria the university celebrates, along with the Orthodox Church, its patron.

The celebrations will certainly be marred by the protests that Sofia University students and professors have been staging for nearly a month already over radical cuts in state funding.

On November 16 more than a thousand people marched from the main building of the University downtown on to the neighboring Parliament building and to the Council of Ministers changing slogans such as "We want to study!" and "Students, gather the trash!"

The rally was led by Sofia University rector Prof. Ivan Ilchev and included faculty, as well as students from Bulgaria's art academies, which are also severely hit by unprecedented cuts in state support for education.

The main argument of the protestors was that undercutting a country's education and science inevitably leads not only to spiritual, but also to social and economic downfall.

The protesting academics and students argued that they do not want random alms, but rather a systematic and committed state policy which clearly recognizes the value of quality education.

Posters carried included "Mutrization has failed", "Djankov, there is money!" (referring to Bulgaria's finmin Simeon Djankov) and "Investment, not cuts!".

The Sofia University vowed to strike again should its demands fail to be heard.

They expressed solidarity with their colleagues from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, which is now under an unprecedented attack from the central government.

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