Why is free education beneficial for all?

Free education helps social mobility 

It is in everyone’s interest that all people have access to higher education. Free education is essential for this goal. To provide a more level playing field, where socio-economic background is not the deciding factor, it is key that education is free and accessible to all. 

At the moment, this is true for all students in Finland who are from the EU/EEA. However, before 2017, Finland provided this opportunity to all who wished to come here to study. I believe that we should aim to reintroduce that system in the future. 

Free education provides more flexibility and competence 

Having free education means that we can be flexible with our studies if we need to or want to be. This means that we can pivot from our original plans to other paths that might be better suited for us.  

The individual benefit is clear, but there is also a societal benefit. It is cheaper and faster for the country if people can get a degree that they are happy with on the first go. Even if it means they take a bit longer. Because the alternative of graduating in a field they might be unhappy with, and even potentially doing another degree, or simply not working in their field is a loss for everyone. 

Free education creates an environment where we feel that we can take risks, where we feel that we can explore our interests freely. This creates unique experiences, opportunities and in the end: unique competence and understanding. This sort of collaborative and free mindset is something that benefits society greatly. 

Free education is empowering which leads to greater fulfillment and happiness 

Finally, free education implies a level of trust that society has placed in those who participate in it. This trust is empowering and allows us to take initiative and to be hopeful for the future. I believe this empowerment is a key cornerstone to a society that wants to innovate but wants to do it responsibly and through common effort. Free education means that we all recognize the importance of education, and we provide the means for it together. 

When we provide something together as a society, that creates trust and a sense of responsibility. The more trust we have, the more people feel like they should give back, they feel important and impactful. 

Free education is for all of us! 

Marcell Berta 
Board Member: Educational Policy