Panel of the Youth educational forum (YEF)

Higher education, corruption and students’ rights

Keynote speakers: Borce Davitkovski, Goce Bumbarovski, Nikola Tupancevski and Nikola Naumovski
Chairperson: Marjan Zabrcanec (YEF)
 
The students must demand their rights themselves
In organization of the Youth educational forum (YEF), there was a panel on the topic “Higher education, corruption and student’s rights” on the second day of the 4th NGO fair. The chairperson, before giving word to the keynote speakers, laid down the two major problems, which are going to be discussed on this topic- corruption, and disturbed protection of the students’ rights.
The professor at the Law faculty in Skopje, Nikola Tupancevski, stated that according to the survey conducted by the Foundation Open Society Institute in Macedonia (FOSIM), one of this kind in Macedonia, there is a high percentage of corruption in the educational system, but unfortunately, so far there are no legal procedures regarding this issue. He invited the students to make the first steps in the fight with these devious occurrences in the educational system.  

“As an illustration I want to mention the possibility of anonymous letter writing and leaving the letters in boxes set especially for this purpose inside the faculties of our universities. This will allow some bases for investigating of the possible mistreatment performed by some of the professors”, stated the professor Tupancevski.

Borce Davitkovski, professor at the Law faculty in Skopje and the students’ solicitor at the university “Ss Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, stated that during his cooperation with a team of students’ assistants from all of the faculties from the university in a period of two years, he has received about 150 complaints by students. “ From 150 complaints I have received from students not one is filed for corruption. Mostly they concern with requests for protection of human rights”, added the professor. He, the same as the previous speaker, declared that students, i.e. the civil student organizations must take the initial step and face this problem area.

The other students’ solicitor from the University “ Ss. Kliment Ohridski” in Bitola , Goce Bumbarovski explained that his services at the university are paid, on contrary of the services provided by the student’s solicitor at the university in Skopje.

Nikola Naumovski, member in the YEF and in the informal group of citizens “Students for themselves” has revealed some of the deviations of the higher educational system, which directly concern the students, for ex. The lack of a code regarding the book selling procedure at the universities, of books written by the professors, taking exams in the professors cabins instead in the amphitheatres or in the classrooms in front of other students, lack of an exam timetable etc.” I must emphasize that students are involved in this matter with a number which is too small. A students’ advocating does not exist, the number of students’ association at the same faculty is small etc.”, were the words of Naumovski.

At the end, the conclusion of all the speakers was the same-students themselves must oppose the corruption in the higher educational system and at the same time stand for and protect their rights.