The Ministry of Education and Science increased the number of students who will study under the state order in universities by 3-4% compared to the previous year, which constitutes up to 58% of the total number of students. This was reported by the Minister of Education and Science Stanislav Nikolayenko in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, August 29. \n \nAt the same time, he reported that starting from September, the Ministry of Education will begin interviews with rectors so that the licensed volume of students studying in their universities is reduced. "The next 3-5-7 years will be very difficult, given the demographic situation," the minister noted. \n \nHe noted that the volume of students who can study in all universities that are currently licensed is about 460 thousand, while the number of 11th-grade graduates is about 400 thousand. \n \nNikolayenko emphasized that the Ministry of Education will strive to ensure that old universities that "have proven themselves well are preserved," and only their branches are subject to reduction. "We will not allow the best universities to be closed while cheap branches continue to operate," he said. \n \nThe minister reported that the agency extended enrollment for technical colleges because they were unable to conduct it "due to the demographic situation." \n \n