Newsroom
BiH Council of Ministers puts country's future at risk
SARAJEVO 22 February 2004
SARAJEVO, 22 February 2004 - The failure by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to forward the draft Higher Education Framework Law to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly is alarming and jeopardizes BiH's chance to improve its education system.
Last year, BiH authorities signed the Bologna Declaration and ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. By doing so, they committed themselves to modernize higher education in BiH, in line with European standards and in line with the needs of BiH students.
The World Bank, recognizing the importance of higher education reform to the future prosperity and economic viability of BiH, is prepared to make available a loan that includes $12 million for education, plus $30 million budget support. The one condition: the modern State-level framework law on Higher Education must be adopted no later than 31 March 2004.
The law fully meets international standards. It is carefully balanced to respect the interests and concerns of the citizens and constituent peoples of BiH. For the past year, a team of experts, including Education Ministry representatives of both Entities and university professors, have laboured on the draft law which would bring much-needed reform to BiH's higher education sector.
Given the urgency and importance of this law and what is at stake, the Council of Ministers must move the draft law into Parliamentary procedure without delay. Failure to do so demonstrates lack of seriousness and dedication towards the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by BiH authorities for the purpose of bringing the country closer to Euro-Atlantic structures.
It is a matter of the greatest concern that the Council of Ministers is not willing to honour the obligations BiH has made to its European neighbours and, more importantly, the citizens of BiH. They have risked an opportunity for BiH to belong to the European structures of higher education. Further, they have risked an opportunity for BiH citizens, in particular students, to benefit from the $42 million World Bank assistance for much needed reforms.
Last year, BiH authorities signed the Bologna Declaration and ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. By doing so, they committed themselves to modernize higher education in BiH, in line with European standards and in line with the needs of BiH students.
The World Bank, recognizing the importance of higher education reform to the future prosperity and economic viability of BiH, is prepared to make available a loan that includes $12 million for education, plus $30 million budget support. The one condition: the modern State-level framework law on Higher Education must be adopted no later than 31 March 2004.
The law fully meets international standards. It is carefully balanced to respect the interests and concerns of the citizens and constituent peoples of BiH. For the past year, a team of experts, including Education Ministry representatives of both Entities and university professors, have laboured on the draft law which would bring much-needed reform to BiH's higher education sector.
Given the urgency and importance of this law and what is at stake, the Council of Ministers must move the draft law into Parliamentary procedure without delay. Failure to do so demonstrates lack of seriousness and dedication towards the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by BiH authorities for the purpose of bringing the country closer to Euro-Atlantic structures.
It is a matter of the greatest concern that the Council of Ministers is not willing to honour the obligations BiH has made to its European neighbours and, more importantly, the citizens of BiH. They have risked an opportunity for BiH to belong to the European structures of higher education. Further, they have risked an opportunity for BiH citizens, in particular students, to benefit from the $42 million World Bank assistance for much needed reforms.