CRO LOWER HOUSE ON VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO NEW EDUCATION MINISTER

ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - The vote of confidence to new Education and Sports Minister Nensi Ivanisevic on Wednesday met with differing opinions in the Croatian parliament's House of Representatives Ivanisevic received full support from the benches of the Croatian Party of Rights, the Croatian Peasant People's Party, and representatives of the Croatian Christian Democratic Union. The bench of the Croatian Peasants' Party announced an abstained vote, while the benches of the Croatian Social Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, and representatives of minorities said they would vote against. Introducing Ivanisevic, Deputy Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak reminded that the new education minister spent 15 years working in schools. She will give her time to the completion of a schooling development concept and basic law, Mintas-Hodak said. MPs took the opportunity while discussing the vote of confidence to Ivanisevic to point to the difficult situation in the schooling system. SDP's Snjezana Biga-Friganovic said the work of professors and teachers was undervalued, that there was a lack of quality staff, and that classrooms were unequipped. Zeljko Pavlic of the HSLS said earmarking for education was low, and asserted with the present government and minister it would be impossible to effect a new schooling concept. Ivanisevic's statements in the media indicate she will stop where her predecessors did, and this is the least we need, he said. The decision on the vote of confidence to Ivanisevic will be made on Friday. (hina) ha mm