The 5 largest Norwegian student societies appealed to the Minister of Higher Education: they are asking for the abolition of tuition fees at universities and colleges for non-residents of the country. Citizens of the country believe that paid education is a total mistake of the Norwegian government.
Today, students who come from outside the European Union are required to pay for their tuition, even high results of entrance exams and personal achievements will not help to get a free education. However, previously, equality and availability of studying courses were in effect in the country for many years, and the new rule appeared only in the fall of 2023. The majority of voting experts were against, but the government approved the project anyway.
Such an attitude towards foreigners deprives the country of talented personnel, according to local students. There is truth in their words: since the end of 2023, the number of foreign students has decreased by 80%. Not all talented students can afford paid higher education in Europe, so they choose countries where it is possible to enroll in a state-funded form of education even for a foreigner.
The students' appeal is also supported by the teaching staff of Norwegian universities: many of them believe that education is not a commodity, but a right for every person. Whether a collective appeal will help improve the situation or affect it for the worse is still unknown.
