PM comments on education

Special attention is being paid to education in Russia again, PrimeMinister Mikhail Kasyanov declared opening the first session of theorganizing committee on preparations for celebrating the 250th anniversaryof Moscow State University in 2005. The head of the government pointed outthat the government was giving a priority to education in its programs. Inparticular, the volume of financing in this sphere has been increased inthe 2003 draft budget. Moreover, education stands first among the prioritydirections of the federal budget.The Prime Minister noted that Moscow State University was "the main highereducational establishment in the country, and the history of Russianeducation is closely bound with it". He also stressed that currently 10,000graduates of this establishment were working in different sectors ofeconomy, science, culture and information. Kasyanov also mentioned thatstudent allowances would be increased effective September 1, 2003 andallowances for scientific degrees would be increased by three timeseffective January 1, 2003. At the same time, the Prime Minister admittedthat these funds were not enough, however, he said, the dynamics ofincrease in allowances would be speeded up in the future..