Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the UPJŠ in Košice Gabriel Semanišin in the buidling devastated by fire. (source: TASR)
UPJŠ will now get a subsidy of €800,000 from the Education Ministry, to at least partially remove and repair the consequences of the fire at the faculty building. Of the total sum, €500,000 is allocated to common expenses and €300,000 to capital expenses including renovation works, the SITA newswire wrote, citing the ministry press department.
The fire broke out on the evening of December 9, damaging four lecture halls, seven teaching and 11 research laboratories, all offices, as well as computers, technology and equipment used for lecturing and research. The preliminary damage assessment was close to three million euros. Unofficially, the cause is rumoured to have been faulty electric power installations.
“Immediately after the fire started, Education Minister Peter Plavčan asked about the situation and declared his concern and willingness to help the university solve the problems,” the ministry wrote. “The result is todays’ decision to allocate the subsidy.”
