More than 80 per cent of the population say no to tuition fees at public universities and university colleges.

2006-02-08 På norsk

A survey from Sentio on behalf of Universitas and the Norwegian Students' Union (NSU) indicates that a considerable majority does not welcome tuition fees at public educational institutions. An astounding 79 per cent of the population voice negativity over public universities forcing tuition fees on students. Only 13.7 per cent are in favour.

- This confirms that Education for all (a common precept in Norwegian student politics) is widely supported, and not only a political resolution, leader of the Student Parliament at UiO Maria Veie Sandvik says.

Less negative

Of the respondents, those who have three years of higher education or more are most in favour of introducing tuition fees; 17.2 per cent in favour. Veie Sandvik thinks that this may be because quality used to be poorer at universities.

- Prior to the Quality Reform, individual assistance of students was worse. Many students probably felt that the quality of their education was insufficient, she says.

Veie Sandvik thinks the survey indicates that the Ministry of Education and Research should increase Higher Education funding rather than tuition fees being a possible solution.

FrP and V in favour

In terms of political preferences, voters from Venstre (the Liberal Party of Norway) and Fremskrittspartiet (a Norwegian right-wing party) are most in favour of tuition fees. FrP’s spokesperson on student policy, Anders Anundsen, is not surprised.

- Our opinion is that private university colleges shall be able to require tuition fees, Anundsen says.

However, he underlines that FrP wants public institutions to be excepted from tuition fees.

On the other side of the political wing, voters are more or less unanimously against tuition fees. Only 3.5 per cent of SV voters (a Norwegian socialist party) are positive to tuition fees.

Happy at BI

The Norwegian School of Management (BI) is one of the private university colleges that charges tuition fees from students. Henrik Faller is pleased with that. He is a Communications officer on behalf of the Students' Union at BI.

- Tuition fees have resulted in a high professional level, Faller thinks.

- Should public institutions consider tuition fees?

- If there is a financial problem, a debate should be in order, Faller says.

He also points out that tuition fees are not necessarily the solution. He mentions the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) as an example of a tuition free success story.

Audun Skei Fostvedt • Translated by Egil Ellenes