FOTO: Anne Ogundipe

The National Union of Students and the welfare organisation The Velferdsting are disappointed that the Government refuses to open the wallet for higher education.

- Welfare measures such as student housing and day-care centres are still lacking in funds, the recent savings from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund notwithstanding. These savings were intended for the students but have been used differently, says Sten Mcneil Ånnerud, Vice-President of The Velferdsting. He is disappointed that that the Government has decided to prioritise kindergartens and elementary schools instead of focusing on higher education.

Newly elected President of the National Union of Students in Norway (NSU), Per Anders Langerød, agrees with Ånnerud and says that he is concerned by the Governments lack of interest in higher education.

- The Government wants to become a leading nation in environmental policy and to strengthen the health sector, but this cannot be done without research.

Bjørn Øgaard from the Forskerforbudet (the Researchers’ Association) claims that the Government is blind to the consequences of the budget cuts.

- Maintaining the introduced budget means working against the research community. There is a great need for researchers in this country, and lack of funding will not lure more students into the community.

Per Botolf Maurseth, in the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Reasearch, means the cuts in the budget from last fall must be seen in a greater picture.

- Over the last years the funding of this sector has gone from 14 to 21 billion kroner. This government has a strong focus on higher education, he says.