site.btaPresident Meets with National Representation of Student Councils Leaders, Members

Education should not function on а market-based principle, but is a matter of institutional and public responsibility for the future of Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev said during a meeting here on Tuesday with the leadership and members of the National Representation of Student Councils (NRSC), which is the only statutory national body for the protection of the rights and interests of more than 230,000 students studying across Bulgarian universities, the President's Press Secretariat reported.

During the meeting, Radev stressed that the State is indebted to young people and the development of society and the economy requires trained professionals by Bulgarian universities.

Rumen Radev also pointed out that State investments in this direction are investments in the quality of human capital in Bulgaria and in this country's prosperity.

The students raised a number of issues they face in their daily lives, such as the living conditions in many of the dormitories in the country, the high electricity bills they have to pay as student dormitories have the status of non-domestic consumers. Issues were also raised relating to the shortage of state-subsidized places for young doctors, the inequity in the receipt of high-achievement scholarships between different universities, and the low amount of scholarships received, the establishment of an organisation for students to participate in paid internships and for adequate remuneration for their labour in participating in various research projects.

After the meeting, the students presented President Rumen Radev with a statuette of St. George for the presidential institution's contribution and active work with student organizations.