Ans.Red.

Hi Astud Oslo!

Ans.Red.
Hi Astud Oslo!

Hi Astud Oslo!

Submited by Vegard Sjaastad Hansen

(This letter to the Editor is an anwser to Astud Oslos post in TT01)

 

First and foremost, I would like to say it is nice to see people talking about something as important for students as the National Budget, and you have managed to really pick some important elements: study grants and student housing are definitely the issues students will notice the most in the future. I would just like to point out that after negotiations with SV, the final increase of the study grants will be 9022 kr, not 5400 kr.  

I would still like to nuance this National Budget a bit. In Hurdalsplattformen, Arbeiderpartiet and Senterpartiet state that they do not want to introduce tuition fees for international students. If we turn back time even further, to when Arbeiderpartiet and Senterpartiet were in opposition, they spoke out negatively towards the then-current government’s suggestion to introduce a tuition fee for international students. It does not increase the trust when governmental parties break their own promises, not once but twice.  

And we are not talking about large figures. The taxes on fuel, spending of the oil funds and the transport projects listed in the National Budget have numbers in the billions. In comparison to these posts, it is expected that the tuition fees for international students could give the entire university sector an income of around 74 million kroner. The cut in support for NMBU alone is 80 million, more than the expected income for the entire sector.  

In addition, some of the expected income would have to be put towards international marketing, to stay attractive for international students. It will be necessary to come up with a solution to collect the fees, a solution not provided in the National Budget. These expenses will simply absorb most of the profits. 

It is still possible to change this in the 12th hour, in the revised National Budget that will be published in May (15 May at the latest). This means that Arbeiderpartiet and Senterpartiet still have a small opportunity to really listen to students, and to really show their commitment to education and diversity in academia. Because the truth is, international students contribute to a large extent in maintaining the high quality of Norwegian education. It is through meeting different people we evolve perspectives which again create thoughts, ideas and knowledge.  

I see the value of formulating this National Budget as a partial win. Students and higher education are not often at the top of the list of priorities for the political parties, so the politicians must be given something for discussing the issues we bring to them. They want praise and positive reviews in the media, which they can use to increase their support. Students have been mobilizing and the visibility in the media seems to have grown. This gives a stronger voice and a greater power of influence. This power gives The National Union of Students in Norway, NSO, a better opportunity to influence the parties in a way that benefits students. This is why we need to let them know that we need a revised National Budget without tuition fees for international students.  

Lastly, I have a challenge for them. If the revised National Budget manage to stop the introduction of tuition fees for international students and keep the increased study grants, I will write a new letter to the editor to tell what a good job the government parties have done in regards to students. If not, I will continue to do as many other students. Stay away from politics.