BE Madeira wants the regional government to move forward with the abolition of tuition fees in higher education institutions

The candidate of the Left Bloc (BE) for the Madeira legislative elections this Thursday defended that the regional government should move forward in abolishing tuition fees for university students with tax residence in the region, including those studying abroad border.

“At the very beginning of our work in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, we are going to present a project in which we ask the government about the possibility of the regional government, whatever it may be, to guarantee the payment of tuition fees. students at the University of Madeira, why not? Given the responsibility of the University of Madeira, it has a social responsibility to help the families of these students, many of whom are experiencing great difficulties,” said Roberto Almada.

The head of the BE list for the early elections on 26 May spoke on the sidelines of a campaign event at the University of Madeira in Funchal, where he addressed university students and teachers, some of whom he knew, and handed out leaflets reading “Reasons for preferring Bloc deputies” and pens with party symbols , in a caravan of eight people, with flags of different colors.

These gifts were received by the young students with some indifference, some accepting them without saying a word or even taking off their headphones, but also with sympathy from others: “Ah, this is Blok de Esquerda, I like this one.”

On this fifth day of the election campaign, BE considered it “unacceptable” to distribute a manifesto in support of the PSD in the regional secretariats for the signature of employees, a situation that will be reported to the National Electoral Commission, also condemning the “illegal” statement of the Madeira Civil Service Union, which says, that, since elections are underway and the regional government is in control, the national strike planned for Friday “cannot be applied to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.”

Regarding the abolition of tuition fees, the maximum cost of which in public higher education for the 2023-2024 academic year is 697 euros, Roberto Almada stated that, given the refusal of the Government of the Republic to accept this measure, “the Regional Government of Madeira must come to the fore”, bringing benefits students with tax residency in the region, regardless of which university in the country they study at.

In this context, the BE candidate deplored the intervention of the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, on 6 May at the University of Madeira Day ceremony in Funchal, in which he argued that the funding of Portuguese universities should be limited. independent of political cycles as they become increasingly volatile, and their development must include partnerships with public and private organizations.

“We are surprised that the PSD/Madeira, which is so quick to criticize the Government of the Republic, which is so quick to come to the defense of the region, has not said a word about this ministerial statement that attacks autonomy. and our university,” said the BE candidate, also criticizing the silence of PS and Chegi.

Roberto Almada reported that B.E. in the Assembly of the Republic will ask the Minister about the possibility of increasing funding for the University of Madeira and the University of the Azores, since they are located in the most remote regions of the European Union and on the islands. regions “where, naturally, there are more financial problems.”

The Madeira legislature has 14 candidates vying for 47 seats in the regional parliament in one constituency: ADN, BE, PS, Livre, IL, RIR, CDU (PCP/PEV), Chega, CDS-PP, MPT, PSD, PAN , PTP and JPP.

In September 2023, the PSD/SDS coalition won without an absolute majority and elected 23 deputies. The PS received 11 mandates, the JPP five, Cega four, and the CDU, IL, PAN (which signed an agreement on parliamentary influence with the Social Democrats) and BE received one mandate each.