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Kiev, Sept. 22: Protests against European Education Ministers

Thu, 22/09/2011 - 22:56 — Mo


~ September 22nd ~
European Education Ministers meet in Kiev:
Counter Forum Prohibited + Protesters detained

Education ministers from across Europe met in Kiev (Ukraine) for the so called "Forum of European Education ministers" hosted by the Ukrainian government today. Since people in the Ukraine struggle against the increasing commercialisation of education just like everyone else around the world, some students decided that this meeting can't just take place silently.

More than 100 students gathered to voice out their opposition to the dominant education policies in the Ukraine and acorss Europe. The protesters were faced with a massive police presence, even riot police was used to keep the students from voicing their opposition.

The police was aggressive and at some stage attacked protesters. Four activists, three of which are members of Direct Action (a network of independent student trade unions), were detained. The police "offered" to release them again in exchange for everyone to stop protesting. But since they saw that this "offer" showed no effect, the activists were fortunately released a few minutes later again.


The Direct Action network planned to hold a students' counter-forum ("the Other Side of Education") these days but it was prohibited by a court ruling. Obviously this decision is in violation with the freedom of assembly. According to the law, this freedom can only be restricted, if there is a direct threat to national security or public order.

Since "the Other Side of Education" was prohibited, students decided not to set up an encampment as planned, but to march through the city center of Kiev instead.

The current education reforms in the Ukraine (like in most other parts of the world) are aimed at cutting down public spending on education and further commercialization of the education system as a whole. This would make it harder for the financially poorer parts of society to attain an university degree.


"love, stand up, fight for your rights"






More details: society.lb.ua (report in Ukrainian with pictures) + fotki.yandex.ru (pictures)

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Comments

Thu, 10/11/2011 - 17:52 — Mari4ka (not verified)

I am from Ukraine

I am from Ukraine (unfortunately most people abroad know too little about our country and those representatives of European Education Ministers get the wrong opinion about the true state of things here from our authorities).Our students movement is not jet coordinated with similar organisations from all over the world, but we really have much to fight against(( Education is not for sale, but somehow in real life this thesis doesn't prove to be true. When society is divided into rich and poor and belonging as a majority to the latter stratum the only choice you have is to try your luck in getting education abroad where you may have at least some rights or become a rebellion activist, you just can't remain indifferent and start protesting. I truly hope that someday our activities will reach another level and we will be heard. For now I'd like to thank you for the great inspiration we get while watching videos or reading the reports about our actions spread online. Power to the students!