Scores of professors from National Taiwan University (NTU) held a press conference yesterday to criticize proposed budget cuts at national universities for the 2001 to 2002 financial year.
"We are here to convey our indignation toward the draft -- the cut in educational funding at the university level," said Kuan Chun-jung (
"The decision illustrates how ignorant the newly-posted Minister of Education Ovid Tseng (曾志朗) is. He has absolutely no idea what the severe impact of the decision would be when he said that the slated cut of 15 percent was nothing major."
Kuan said teaching quality would suffer as a result of the cuts.
The news conference was called yesterday in response to a July 14 decision by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to cut funding at national universities between 10 percent and 15 percent.
The cut is in sharp contrast to the efforts of Chinese authorities, according to Ting Yi-ni (
Ting said Chinese authorities give high priority to scientific and technological advancements.
"They consequently place great emphasis on the progress of educational quality, ensuring students receive the best academic training," Ting said.
Ting said that Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基) was quoted in 1998 as saying that the government would improve educational quality by diverting funds away from downsized state organizations.
"Seeing the rising educational standards in China, how can we stand by and let our standards continue to slide?" Ting said.
Kuan supplied reporters with a list of income and expenses at NTU since 1998. A chart indicated that funding from the ministry has dropped over the last two years -- from NT$5.71 billion in 1998 to NT$5.31 billion this year.
According to the proposal outlined by the ministry, the budget for the next fiscal year would drop to NT$4.42 billion.
"The average amount to be spent on research has been NT$2.48 billion per year since 1998," Kuan said.
"Based on our calculations, the school's income for the next fiscal year will be NT$750 million from tuition charges and NT$4.42 billion in subsidies from the ministry.
"If the NT$4.29 billion personnel expense is deducted from the total amount, only NT$130 million will be left for academic research. How can research standards not deteriorate?" Kuan said.
Kung Ching-hua (孔慶華), a professor in the department of naval architecture and ocean engineering, said the cut will lead to an immense increase in tuition fees.
"It is unfair for parents to suffer the consequences of flawed policies designed by the government," Kung said.
In response to the proposal, national university presidents protested on July 15. Kuan said future protests were planned.
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