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Students Protest Tuition Fees

Students gathered in Helsinki on Wednesday to protest against calls to charge for higher education. Thousands of students from around the country showed up at the rally, organised by the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK).

Ihmisiä Helsingin yliopiston Porthania-rakennuksen edessä.
Image: YLE

The demonstration began at Senate Square around noon. From there, protestors marched to the Parliament building where they were to meet with parliamentary group representatives to discuss tuition fees.

The students are calling on political parties to take a clear stand on tuition during their party conferences this summer. They argue that free education has promoted equality in society.

Recently, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and business leaders proposed charging students tuition in Finland.

However, Education Minister Henna Virkkunen says Finnish students do not need to worry about paying tuition fees. She says that the government and her conservative National Coalition Party are committed to free higher education. Instead, she says that higher education institutions could reduce the number of study berths.

Sources: YLE