Last update - 00:00 11/12/2007
Cmte. Of University Heads: Academic year in danger of cancellation
By Tamara Traubmann, Haaretz Correspondent
Professor Moshe Kaveh, chairman of the Committee of University Heads, said Tuesday that the current academic year is in danger of being canceled due to an ongoing lecturer's strike.
According to Kaveh, if the strike doesn't end within days, the time already lost will make it impossible to complete the academic year.
The lecturers have been striking since the beginning of the academic year in October due to dissatisfaction with their salaries and work conditions.
Professor Kaveh told Haaretz Tuesday that "many of the courses are year-long, and if the academic year will be extended to a year and a quarter, it will never end. We are in the twilight zone right now, when we move past it we won't be able to give the students a full year."
Over recent days, significant progress has been made between the lecturers and the Finance Ministry in developing a mechanism that would prevent the erosion in the lecturers' salaries in the future. However, talks once again reached a dead end on Tuesday. Professor Kaveh called on the Finance Ministry to "return to the constructive spirit that characterized the beginning of the week."
Also Tuesday, students, lecturers and junior staff members staged a demonstration supporting the striking lecturers on the campus of Tel Aviv University. More than 500 demonstrators carried signs criticizing the treasury, the Education Ministry and the prime minister.
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