hem|mungen

Tuition at German Universities

Via these folks, Moe links to the German government's position statement against introducing university tuition (and fees) at the level of the "Erststudium," your first go-round. The issue will be raised this week in the Federal Consitutional Court, because a number of CDU-governed states consider this to be an issue that should be governed by them, not by the feds. The government's general position is that "tuition is harmful. Additional financial burdens will result in fewer young people in Germany choosing a university education."

The short list of elaborations (with my interpretations in parentheses):

Germany needs more academics.
(in order to stay competetive in the international field)
Studying must not be allowed to become even more expensive.
(the expense is already a deterent)
University study should not be available only to children from rich families.
(---)
Students' mobility must be preserved.
(if tuition is set by the Länder, as the CDU states would like, costs will vary, affecting where people go to study--though I think this does already determine that to some extent. It costs more to study in Munich than in Berlin, for example, right? Just because of the cost of living)
Academics pay for their education.
(through the higher taxes they pay later when they get their high-paying jobs...well...perhaps)
Lack of tuition should not be considered exceptional.
(on the example of the high-PISA-scoring Scandinavian countries)

Like Moe says, this is mostly a symbolic act, since the court's making the decision, but it's notable that the government has spoken so decisively. Although if I were to be a cynic, I might call it an attempt to rebuild confidence after the recent university strikes.

Posted by Heather at January 20, 2005 10:14 AM