Student union OSAKO arranges together with student union OYY a demonstration for free education on the 21st of April, 2010 in Rotuaari (in downtown Oulu). The demonstration starts at noon. Come and show your support for the cause!
Discussion about free education is heating up. Parliamentary elections are approaching, and free higher education is something that unites people over party and generational lines. Free education is the foundation of Finnish society which has enabled equal opportunities for all, regardless of origin.
The National Union of University Students in Finland and the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences and their member organizations gather for a mass demonstration “Yes to free education” in Helsinki on the 21st of April, 2010. A massive group of current, former and future students are expected to gather. We want to raise up the benefits of a free education in a cheerful manner.
STATEMENT 20 April 2010: SYL and SAMOK: Yes to tuition-free education
Higher education in Finland is tuition-free for all EU/EEC students. Students and citizens allover Finland are particularly happy with the situation, as tuition-free higher education is regarded as the corner brick of the Nordic welfare state. Higher education, that is accessible to all capable students regardless of e.g. the family background, also gives Finland a better chance to build its success on know-how and education.
The next parliamentary elections are to be held in April 2011. There have been examples all across Europe where higher education has faced budget cuts and even tuition fees are to be introduced or inflated due to the current economic crisis. We, the students, are concerned of this kind of development. The concerns have strengthened especially because throughout the spring there have been many considerations and even proposals of introducing different kinds of tuition fee systems also in Finland. These considerations have been presented as a solution to e.g. the somewhat high average graduation age in Finland – which results actually mostly from very long average delay in getting into higher education after upper secondary or vocational school.
We regard the Finnish, open and tuition-free model in higher education as the best possible system for Finland and are ready to promote it strongly.