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FOTO: Stéphane Lelarge
Joint demands to the Government
The National Union of Students in Norway and the Norwegian Association of Students have made a wish list for the state budget and intend to demonstrate before the Government’s budget conference on Monday.
På norskThe two biggest student organizations, the National Union of Students in Norway (NSU) and the Norwegian Association of Students (StL) have pointed out three main demands for the upcoming state budget:
- An increase in the basic allowances to the higher education sector.
- More student housing.
- Financial support for students 11 months of the year.
- Before the start of the semester, almost 12 000 students nationwide were in the queue for student housing. At the same time, the prices on the rental market are going sky high. Now the Government must continue to work towards reaching the target of 1000 new student housing units this year, says Leader of NSU Ingvild Reymert. This is dependent on additional funds of 75 million kroner, according to the organization.
The demonstration will feature a stunt: a hammer that Minister of Research and Higher Education Tora Aasland will be given to take to the Government’s budget conference.
- Now she must hammer home the message and make sure that there are allowances made for more student housing in the state budget, says Erik Skaar, Information Consultant at StL.
During the planning meeting for the demonstration it was clear that 117 people have confirmed through Facebook that they plan to attend the event.
- In that case we can count on at least 100–150 people turning up, Reymert smiles.
She emphasizes the gravity of the situation; the attendance on Monday may have an impact on whether our demands to the state budget will be met. If many people turn up, then it will have a positive effect on the budget conference, she believes.
The Ministry of Research and Higher Education does not wish to comment the priorities of the student politicians.
- It is simply procedure that politicians are unable to comment on priorities in the state budget, says Head of Information Egil Knudsen.
The youth parties of the governmental parties, AUF, SU and Senterungdommen, will also participate in the demonstration on Monday. Christine Skogen Nyhagen • Stephane Lelarge (foto) • Translated by Anna Young
Fakta
The National Union of Students in Norway (NSU)
- An interest organization for almost 93 000 students at universities, university colleges, art colleges and scientific colleges.
- Was founded in 1936.
- The student democracies at the universities of Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Ås and Tromsø, as well as Bergen University College and 6 scientific colleges in Oslo are member branches.
- An interest organization for approximately 100 000 students.
- Was founded in 1996.
- The member branches are the student democracies at 31 state and private educational institutions, amongst others most of the university colleges and the University of Agder.
