EDUCATION Minister Martin Fronc said the ruling coalition has agreed to reintroduce fees for university education.
Fees for university education were eliminated with the passage of the University Law last spring, heavily backed by the reform communist Social Democratic Party (SDĽ). As a result of the law, many Slovak universities have cancelled or greatly reduced part-time study programs, saying that they have no money to keep the schools open.
Although the SDĽ captured a 14 per cent vote share in 1998 elections and was a member of the 1998-2002 ruling coalition, the party failed to reach the 5 per cent minimum for parliamentary representation in September elections.
Fronc told the Slovak daily Sme that fees have to be reintroduced. "I think the only matter for discussion will be how big the fees should be," Fronc said.