Law Professor Jan Fridhjof Bernt holds that UiO is breaking the law when charging for obligatory field trips.

2006-02-08 På norsk

- This is another word for tuition fees, leader of the Student Parliament Maria Veie Sandvik says.

She reacts to the fact that Bachelor students of Biology have to pay NOK 2400 each to take part in two obligatory field trips for the module BIO1200, and thinks that the arrangement is a clear violation of Education for all, a precept introduced by a recent law regarding universities and university colleges.

- It is utterly unacceptable, the Student Parliament leader says. She has initiated a debate with the University management at UiO and hopes to get a dialogue with those responsible for Biology programmes.

- The University has to pay

Jan Fridthjof Bernt, Professor of Public Law at the University of Bergen, believes that the University of Oslo is breaking the law when charging for obligatory teaching.

Last year, new regulations regarding charges in higher education were implemented. They clearly point out that public educational institutions can only charge students for learning material.

- The regulations underline that the prohibition of charging students means that the institution cannot charge students of anything besides costs related to material. In my opinion, this means that UiO is unable to make students cover the expenses in relation to field work, unless this has been properly authorised by the Ministry, Bernt says.

- Until further notice, it is my understanding that UiO will have to cover all expenses regarding such obligatory academic activities, he says.

- Vague regulations

Monica Bakken, studiedirektør at UiO, disagrees that this arrangement is against the law.

- Neither the law, nor the regulations says anything about field work. However, we feel that the regulations open for the possibility of charging students in certain cases, Bakken says, who points out that the charge in question only covers traveling expenses as well as food and lodging.

- It is our opinion that this is well within the boundaries of the law. But the regulations are vague, and we are going to contact the Ministry of Education and Research in order to get a clarification, Bakken says.

- Not unclear

State Secretary for the Ministry of Education and Research Åge Rosnes says that expenses relating to traveling and food and lodging cannot be regarded as learning material.

- The idea is clear and simple: All free education shall be free of charge, except some minour costs that are directly related to material, Rosnes says.

The Ministry holds that field work has to be voluntary if charges are involved.

- In the event that Education for all does not work according to its intention, we have to be aware and possibly react, Rosnes says, and adds that the Ministry will have to refrain from further comments until a formal complaint has been filed.

- Are the regulations unclear?

- That is a matter of definition; what can be defined as a «smaller amount»? But learning material does not include traveling and food, that much we know, Rosnes says.

Gutted students

Cecilie Børgund (25), Christiane M. Brandvoll (20) and Tore Magnussen (23) are Bachelor students of Biology. They are gutted by the fact that they have to pay for their field trips.

- This should have been included. 2400 kroner is almost more than my regular allowance, Magnussen says.

The longest of the two field trips is during the summer, which results in an even larger bill for the students.

- We won’t be getting a normal summer holiday, and to get a summer job will be hard. I understand that it takes place during the summer seeing as how this is the best time for studying animal life. But it is strange that it is supposed to cost so much money, Brandvoll says.

The students are also unhappy with the lack of information from UiO to new students about this charge.

- There was no information about this on the web pages, Brandvoll says.

Sindre Granly Meldalen • Ida De Rosa • Marius Nergård Pettersen (photo) • Translated by Egil Ellenes