Introduce tuition fees for Swedish students. This proposal was voted for by the parliamentary session of Moderata studenter.
Photo: Private.
A maximum of 54,000 SEK per academic year in tuition fees. This was suggested by Axel Strandborg, President of Moderata studenter at Lund University in a motion to the parliamentary session of Moderata studenter, and the proposal was approved. This is the first time ever that the student association voted for the introduction of tuition fees.
”We want to get more resources in education while each individual must take personal responsibility for his/her education. If each individual pays by himself/herself, higher standards can be set for his/her education and be more concerned about the quality”, Axel Strandborg says.
”In Sweden we have a problem with education, as it not always leads to jobs. The lack of education quality must also be addressed, and then this is one way to do it”, he says.
According to the proposal, students are going to finance their studies through loans that go directly from CSN (Centrala Studiestödsnämnden) to the university.
”We do not want to prevent anyone from entering higher studies and therefore the government must be able to offer study loans. This is a good compromise”, Axel Strandborg says.
Photo: Private.
“Should be free”
But Gustav Ekström, President of the Faculty of Social Democratic Student Club, does not agree.
”It is a miserable proposal. All education should be free, and it should remain so for the students coming from abroad”, he says.
”This proposal does not solve the problems but recreate the class society. It makes it harder for people to study and climb the social ladder”, says Gustav Ekström.
How should the quality of education be increased?
”There are more resources needed and the responsibility lies within the government. Unfortunately there is no money to date as the previous government lowered the taxes. There have to be more teacher-led hours and a more equal distribution between different programs”, he says.
Works in the United Kingdom
Moderata studenter does not agree that this would recreate a class society. ”There has been a fear that this would increase the socially biased recruitment. But if you look at the UK, the socially biased recruitment is not affected by the fees”, Axel Strandborg says.
Text: Carl-Johan Kullving
Translation: Lars Jansson
