21 October, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. The cost of tuition at higher and secondary vocational educational institutions in Belarus will increase by no more than 25%. Each educational institution, having calculated its costs for educational services, submitted proposals to the Ministry of Education, which were adjusted. As the Ministry informed a BELTA correspondent, "although higher and secondary vocational educational institutions determine the cost of tuition themselves, in the current situation, the management of these institutions was recommended not to increase the tuition cost by more than 25% compared to the current price." Higher and secondary vocational educational institutions may increase tuition fees for all forms of study – full-time, part-time, evening, but only taking into account the economically justified costs necessary for the training of a specialist in a specific specialty (specialization) at that educational institution. Various proposals were made, and a consolidated decision was reached that the increase should not exceed 25%. In some educational institutions, according to the justification of costs, it will be lower. Educational institutions may recalculate tuition fees due to the fact that decisions were made in Belarus to increase the first-category wage rate (by 28%) from October 1 of the current year to Br151 thousand (Government Decree No. 1310 of October 1, 2011), as well as to increase other prices and tariffs for works (services). Based on these increases, educational institutions, if necessary, can revise the calculations for paid tuition in the following categories: "wages," "wage accruals," "overhead costs" related to utility expenses. At the same time, the planned calculation must include costs according to the norms and standards applicable to budget organizations. Higher and secondary vocational educational institutions will revise the prices for paid tuition in one stage. The institutions will independently decide from which date (October 1 or November 1) to carry out the recalculation. The Ministry of Education recommended that educational institutions conduct explanatory work among students and their parents regarding the necessity of increasing the cost of paid tuition from October 1. "We recommended that all heads of higher and secondary vocational educational institutions, considering the social significance of the service, based on citizens' applications, collect additional tuition fees with deferred payment for students, as well as provide installment payments for the collection of additional tuition fees," the Ministry of Education noted.Prices for paid education in state educational institutions are formed in accordance with Decree No. 126 of February 28, 2006 "On some issues of obtaining higher and secondary specialized education on a paid basis" (as amended by subparagraph 1.28 of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 439 of September 30, 2011 "On amendments and additions to some Decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus on education issues") and adopted regulatory legal acts for the implementation of the decree. Based on the legislation, the cost of paid education is established by the educational institution independently, approved by the head in Belarusian rubles, and included in the specialist training agreement. -0-

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