Never stop the madness: pulling the rug out from under young people again

Today, 15 October, is the Day for Free Education.  

Free education is society’s promise of equal opportunities for everyone to develop their skills and pursue their dreams. At the same time, it is a cornerstone that young people in Finland can rely on as they look to the future. Finnish society is built on bildung and a high level of expertise, and we must not lose that foundation. Bildung is also a way forward for Finland at the level of vision (OKM, 2026). Its value must be reflected in investments in future generations.

Yet this pillar of Finnish society is now being steadily eroded. Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students have risen significantly, and the government has proposed allowing open higher education institutions to grant degrees, thereby creating a new, fee-charging pathway.  The Ministry of Finance’s policy outlook for the coming government term (VM, 2026) now proposes broadening the funding base for higher education institutions. In practice, this means a proposal to introduce tuition fees for students pursuing a second degree.

The aim of introducing tuition fees for second degrees is to steer higher education towards first-degree applicants. In practice, however, this is achieved by preventing those who cannot afford the fees from developing their expertise further. The fees add to the pressure on young people who are already struggling to maintain their faith in the future (Youth Barometer, 2026; Sitra, 2026). This is how the madness never stops, and how the rug is once again being pulled out from under young people’s faith in the future.

Tuition fees are one part of a broader shift in the core values of higher education. Finnish society has been built on a high level of expertise and accessible, free education. This broad base of expertise has been internationally recognised as a competitive advantage for a small country. The idea of higher education as a societal investment in the expertise and future of the entire population now seems to belong to the past. Instead, we have shifted towards viewing education as an investment individuals make in themselves. In addition to tuition fees, this phenomenon is also reflected in the growing emphasis on loans as a form of student financial aid. Students are already taking out loans to cover essential expenses (Eurostudent 9, 2026), raising concerns of loan repayments in the future. 

Historically, introducing tuition fees as part of the funding base for higher education institutions has not meant that public funding has remained unchanged. Instead, cuts to public funding have been made (in England, for example, Lewis, Bolton, Wilson, 2026). When public funding is reduced, higher education institutions become increasingly dependent on external funding, which influences the direction of education and research, while also posing challenges to academic freedom and the freedom of science.

There are many issues surrounding higher education that are undermining young people’s faith in the future. Choosing the right field of study will become increasingly difficult, and opportunities to find yourself and pursue your dreams will become increasingly challenging. Free education and stronger core funding for higher education are of primary importance for future experts, for young people’s belief in their opportunities, and for a crisis-resilient society. 

This madness must end, and we must shift the focus away from the debate on tuition fees and towards measures that strengthen young people’s faith in the future. We must not pull the rug out from under young people. Instead, we must hold on to high-quality, tuition-free education and ensure a sufficient livelihood.

Antti Puska
Board Member: Education Policy

Totti Korpua
Advocacy Specialist: Education Policy