19 April 2016, 13:26
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii has met with representatives of the scientific sector, who came to the walls of the Ukrainian Parliament demanding allocation of funds to finance the Ukrainian scientists.
The scientists demanded implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On scientific and scientific-technological activities" adopted last year.
In compliance with the law, the financing of science should have been paid at the rate of 1.7% of the gross domestic product. At present, the state budget allocates only 0.2%, which make remuneration of labor of young scientists impossible and terminate financing of scientific programs. In particular, Education and Science Minister of Ukraine Liliya Hrynevych noted that as at today "all academies require additional UAH 610 million to redeem wage debts," thus, amendments to the State Budget of Ukraine for 2016 are needed as soon as possible. She said that the ministry is trying to determine the most important trends of its activity.
The scientists have handed over the list of their demands to Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii. Having supported the necessity for improvements in the fields of education and science, Andrii Parubii noted that the proposals on additional financing had to be considered in a general package of amendments to the state budget to be considered in first half of June.
"The solving of these problems is not so impossible. However, many proposals for 2017 have to be elaborated as soon as possible," Parubii said. He promised to organize a meeting between the scientists and Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.
The protesters had blocked the traffic on Hrushevskoho street for some time, and at the moment the traffic is unblocked.