Board decisions|As part of the savings measures of the spring budget crisis, the government decided that the exemption from fees will be limited to the end of the calendar year in which the student turns 18.
RKP Chairman, Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson wants to keep secondary education materials free of charge. He raised the issue on Saturday at the Rkp’s party council meeting in Helsinki.
As part of the savings measures of the spring budget crisis, the government decided that the exemption from fees will be limited to the end of the calendar year in which the student turns 18. However, according to Henriksson, the purpose was to secure free learning materials within the framework of the compulsory education age.
According to Henriksson, the Ministry of Education and Culture has reviewed how the proposal could be implemented and what kind of practical effects it would have after the framework dispute.
“My assessment now is that it would make the most sense for the learning materials to remain free of charge in the current way and instead we look for alternative savings,” says Henriksson in the announcement.
According to Henriksson, all impact assessments were not yet available in connection with the framework dispute.
“The cost of learning materials after the calendar year in which the student turns 18 could lead to situations where students are treated differently in different parts of the country, because, for example, different municipalities may have different policies. Some municipalities may charge fees, and some may decide not to charge them.”
According to Henriksson, the proposal would also increase the bureaucracy and administrative burden for the education organizers. He plans to figure out replacement austerity measures.
Finland President of the High School Students’ Union August Kiattrakoolchai considers Henriksson’s statement a positive surprise and a very good opening.
Kiattrakoolchai hopes that the other government parties would now also consider and seriously take into account what has been noticed in the Rkp.
“Not all the impact assessment was available when the government made the decisions in a rush,” Kiattrakoolchai tells STT.
The Association of Finnish High School Students hopes that the government will back down on limiting the free study materials for the second level.
At the same time, Kiattrakoolchai states that it is only a matter of possibility. For now, the decision is that the free service will be limited.
“As long as the decision to cancel it is made in the government, I wouldn’t go celebrating just yet.”
According to Kiattrakoolchai, limiting the free availability of study materials leads to students being placed in an unequal position. According to him, those who start secondary education earlier will be able to enjoy free of charge for longer.
“Others who start later than their own age group find themselves in a significantly weaker position.”
Education Chairman of the trade association OAJ Katarina Murto asks message service in Xwhy the decision to limit free of charge at all had to be made in a frame rush.
“The side effects are significantly greater compared to the marginal savings in the big picture,” writes Murto.
According to the government, limiting the free learning materials would strengthen the public finances annually by 12 million euros in the long term.
The study materials for the second level and the first five matriculation exams are currently free of charge until the end of the calendar year in which the student turns 20. In 2021, secondary education became free of charge for primary school leavers.
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