Saying No to Education Cuts

By Judy Dempsey. BERLIN — Many countries in Central and Eastern Europe have trimmed back spending on education after the 2008 global financial crisis and its aftermath. But Poland and Lithuania have managed to buck that trend. Given the importance of a well-educated and skilled work force for future growth, that may prove to have been the smart way to go.
When the East and Central European countries joined the European Union in 2004, foreign direct investment increased and trade with E.U. partners flourished. For the young, membership opened the door to participation in E.U educational programs like Erasmus and student exchanges between European universities. The opportunities were huge.
Then came the global financial meltdown and its aftermath, a systemic banking and debt crisis and economic stagnation across most of Europe.
Among the newest E.U. entrants, Latvia and Hungary needed help from the International Monetary Fund to save their banking sectors from collapse, and amid ongoing pressure for budgetary rigor, several governments in the region moved to cut planned spending — including expenditures on education. Read More...