Sunday, September 7, 2008

How much are tuition fees in Finland?

Finland always ranks among the highest in global comparison of education systems. So what does it cost to go to Finnish universities and colleges? Nothing. However, with the links of universities to the corporate world increasing by leaps and bounds there are also moves worldwide to impose a market model on university fee structures and obliterate the idea that post-secondary education is a right rather it is something open to people only on the basis of income with various loans etc. to help out those without sufficient funds. Finland is not the only European system with free education at all levels. Sweden, Denmark, among others have similar systems and so does Cuba. Even though the United States is one of the richer countries in the world the very idea of free tuition for colleges and universities does not make it into political discourse. I watched a short bit on CNN today about how the problem of high tuition fees might be solved. The idea that one might abolish these fees never even comes up. In fact the suggestion of even reducing fees was never mentioned either by Obama or McCain nor the expert consulted by CNN. Talk about framing discussions. It seems that American citizens are kept ignorant of what is happening in the rest of the world and any radical change from the status quo does not even enter political discourse. This is true even though both McCain and Obama blab on about change.

This is from Wikipedia.

The Finnish education system is an egalitarian Nordic system, with no tuition fees for full-time students. Attendance is compulsory for nine years starting at age seven, and free meals are served to pupils at primary and secondary levels, where the pupils go to their local school. In the OECD's international assessment of student performance, PISA, Finland has consistently been among the highest scorers worldwide; in 2003 Finnish 15-year-olds came first in reading literacy, mathematics, and science, while placing second in problem solving. In tertiary education, the World Economic Forum ranks Finland #1 in the world in enrollment and quality and #2 in math and science education.

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