Golikova offers Putin to allot 41 bln rbl for universities, science

MOSCOW, May 21 (PRIME) -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova on Thursday suggested President Vladimir Putin allocate 41.4 billion rubles to support universities, healthcare institutions, and science.

“We found it possible to suggest you allocate certain financial resources to support federal institutions of higher education, healthcare and science. We have already allocated financial resources for culture. And we estimate the amount of such financial resources, excluding culture that has already received money, at 41.4 billion rubles,” she said at a meeting with the president.

Putin said that Russia will increase affordability of free higher education, first of all in the regions. It is also necessary to consider rate reduction on educational loans to 3% from 8%.

“We will increase affordability of free higher education. First of all, in the regions with an inadequate number of highly qualified specialists. But young people should have other opportunities to get education. Including paying for education with an educational loan, and doing this at the most favorable terms. In this regard, I ask the government, together with the central bank, to work on the issue of reducing the educational loan rate from the current over 8% to 3% and to extend the repayment term of such loans,” Putin said.

The president also said it is necessary to open some groups in kindergartens, summer city day camps and schools, having thought through everything to the smallest detail and organizing the most rigorous medical monitoring of health of children and staff.

(72.3381 rubles – U.S. $1)

End %%ob/jst%%