(PRAGUE) - Czech government officials will likely decide next week on the fate of the country's education minister, under fire for failing to tap EU funding, Deputy Prime Minister Martin Bursik said Sunday.

Minister Dana Kuchtova has been the target of mounting criticism following news that Czech universities and research centres may not be able to draw on 60 billion koruna (2.1 billion euros, 3.0 billion dollars) in EU funds because of flaws in the way her officials drew up the bid.

Asked whether his fellow Green party minister should resign, Bursik said in an interview with public Czech Television: "The situation is serious. I will speak with her and with the prime minister about what we will do and it will probably be resolved next week."

"It is not part of the Green Party repertoire to hold onto people at all costs," he added.

Bursik said, however, there was still a chance of mending problems identified in the Czech bid for EU funds.

EU officials last week expressed strong doubts over whether the Czech application being drawn up could be approved by the mid-September deadline, Czech media have reported.

Mistakes at Kuchtova's ministry also may cost the country the chance of receiving around 50 billion koruna over seven years from another EU fund, the reports said.

Bursik said part of the problem stemmed from people competent in EU funds leaving the education ministry.

Kuchtova, a former high-profile anti-nuclear activist whose capabilities as a minister have been questioned, has said she sees no reason to resign, adding that other institutions share some of the blame for the EU funding problem.

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