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The Polish minister of national education Jerzy Wiatr was hit on the head with an egg as he attempted to discuss higher education reform with the students of the country's oldest university, the Jagellonian University of Cracow.

The minister was invited by students to take part in a panel discussion on the future of higher education, including protected key syllabus changes and tuition fees, and the prospects for graduates. He was greeted by whistling, the chanting of slogans and a banner reading "Get out of Cracow". In an allusion to the chronic lack of money a red cap was passed round for his fare back to Warsaw.

After trying for almost 20 minutes to deliver what he called "a serious speech at the invitation of a serious students' organisation", Mr Wiatr left, speeded on his way with a well-aimed egg. The police were called and eventually the minister was able to deliver his speech to a small group of students and academics in the office of the dean of the medical faculty. The collection was donated to the library.