KrF wishes to introduce a tuition fee for international students. This was presented in the party’s alternative federal budget.

– I didn’t expect KrF to be the first party in parliament to recommend a breakaway from the principle of free higher education. The proposal is unrealistic and principle-less, says educational politics spokesman for the Socialist Left Party (SV), Aksel Hagen, in a press release. The proposal is one of the priorities under the point for «Increased spending on higher education, research and student welfare»
in KrF’s alternative federal budget. The proposal in its entirety: «KrF prioritizes requirement-tested stipends in conjunction with the introduction of tuition fees for foreign international students.»

Disagrees

Hagen disagrees greatly with the proposal, which, according to SV, is meant to cover proposed increases to higher education.

– It’s not a given that this proposal will generate larger savings. In our neighboring countries they’re spending large amounts recruiting foreign students, says Hagen.

Hagen is referring to Sweden, where he claims there’s being spent upwards of 90 million Swedish kroners on a stipendiary program. Presumably to tempt foreign students.

–Necessary tuition fee

Vice-chairman for the Norwegian Young Christian Democrats (KrFU), Øystein Sivertsen

Sørvig, thinks, in contrast to Hagen, that it is a good proposal from his mother-party.

– It isn’t so that we wanted to introduce a tuition fee for international students, but we believe it’s a necessity. This proposal is needed, because we have other expenses to cover and there’s a lot of money to be saved by establishing a tuition fee, says Søvig.

He also claims the recruitment of foreign students won’t be an issue, even if they have to pay.

– We’ve observed that the introduction of tuition fees is an on-going trend in Europe. If Norway becomes one of the last countries without this fee we risk the influx of too many international students, says Søvig.

Vice-chairman of KrF and the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs in parliament, Dagrun Eriksen, was of Tuesday evening not available for a comment.