The Student Parliament flogs government cuts in grants and Student Welfare. Høyres studentforbund (a political union of students under Høyre) labels this motion as selfish socialism.

“Through the Quality Reform, work load has increased for university students. Consequently, it has become more difficult to work part-time. Higher Education is at the verge of being exclusively for the healthy and efficient students who receive financial support from their parents,” President of the Student Parliament at the University of Oslo (UiO) Maria Veie Sandvik says.

In a resolution adopted this weekend, the Student Parliament requires among others 60 per cent of funding received as grant, the re-introduction of the travel grant, and a 50 per cent discount with NSB (the national railways). The resolution, which is a proposal from Venstrealliansen (a political group at UiO), does not come by coincidence.

“We wish that politicians feel obligated towards our requirements,” Sandvik says.

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However, not every student politician agrees with the motion from the Student Parliament. Seven out of 37 representatives who voted on the resolution wished to be put on record as disagreeing.

Elisabeth Torkildsen, leader of Høyres studentforbund, disagrees completely that the Government has cut in Student Welfare:

“The Student Parliament’s calculations are mistaken. They have added numbers in confusion.” Torkildsen holds that it is unsocial to require an increased grant because those who work are stuck with the bill. Nevertheless, she admits that student financing could improve:

“We would like to introduce indexation of student loans and grants but first we have to make sure that the Quality Reform is implemented and that education is ample. We cannot do everything at once,” Torkildsen says.