Today, 24 October, is the Day for Free Education. Once again, we are asking fundamental questions linked to equality, solidarity and the future of Finland to support everyone’s access to higher education and the degree they desire.
Imagine a situation where you need to save tens of thousands of euros for your child’s future higher education degree. You would save money despite paying off your own student loan, paying rent for your home, buying food and other necessities, and if you have enough money you can sometimes go out for coffee with your friends. In many of our OECD reference countries, this situation is commonplace. Are parents prepared and able to do this in Finland?
The Finnish higher education system has been based on the idea that everyone is guaranteed equal opportunities to an education in their desired field and to reach their desired level of education all the way to higher education, free of charge, supported by society. Higher education also benefits society extensively, which is why we are aiming to increase the proportion of young people higher education to half of the age group.
The collection of tuition fees would be a major change to our country’s story as a whole. Burdening individuals with funding their education would flip Finnish higher education and societal policy on its head and raise concerns about maintaining the level of education in Finland. As a small society reliant on a high level of competence, we cannot take such a risk.
In addition, higher education does not always guarantee a high level of pay. Imagine a situation in which even fewer people could gain an education to become early childhood education and care teachers, nurses or many professions in the cultural and creative sector? Are we even prepared to accept the transition to a society where higher education and achieving a job in our dream industry depend on our own income and that of parents?
Free education promotes social mobility and, for its part, makes it possible for anyone, regardless of their parents’ educational background, to gain an education. In Finland, approximately 118,900 children live in a low-income family (Itla, 2022). What would happen to social mobility if one in ten did not have access to higher education?
The Day for Free Education is a good time to stop and think about the role of higher education in self-development and in growing as a societal actor. Today, we encourage everyone to enjoy the free Finnish education path and remember its great significance to society.