A draft bill tabled in Parliament by the relevant education ministry on Wednesday that, among others, obliges all public tertiary education institutions in the country to issue and follow an internal organizational plan as well as a framework for allowing access to university premises.

If the bill is ratified in Parliament, which is more-or-less expected, then university administrations have until the end of the year to implement its provisions, otherwise face funding cutbacks. A six-month extension is foreseen, nevertheless.

The main provision of the draft bill aims to boost security on public university and college campuses and affiliated spaces and to combat violence – the latter usually associated with self-described anarchist and anti-state groupings.

The draft bill allows university and tertiary-level schools to employ security staff, use drones, CCTV systems and electronic systems allow access to the premises for students, academics, administrative staff, researchers and visitors.

According to the draft bill’s primary provision, “Higher education institutions may implement technical or other necessary measures to maintain order and safety within their premises, as well as to protect the life and physical integrity of teaching, administrative, and other staff, students, and third parties – visitors -and to protect the former’s property.”

The draft legislation includes security and safety-related provisions for all three levels of education.