(4) Funding of Hither Education in Harsh Financial Environment
The confusion resulting from the transition to a market economy has created a harsh financial situation in Russia, leading to reduced funding of universities by the state and state-owned enterprises. As a result universities have been forced to find their own ways of procuring funds, including the collection of tuition fees from some students; the imposition of charges for supplementary teaching, individual instruction, and extension courses; and the acceptance of donations. There is still no sign of improvement in the financial situation, however, as seen in instances of delayed salary payments to teaching staff and delayed scholarship payments. In addition, the real value of scholarship payments has been eroded by inflation.