Germany Makes College Education Free as American Students Drown in Debt
Higher education tuition fees were banned in Germany this week for anyone pursuing a degree in the country. Yes, that includes Americans.
Although German students were paying only the equivalent of $630 a year for higher education, on average, the country's elected representatives decided any tuition fees perpetuate inequality. Shutterstock
Higher education tuition fees were banned in Germany earlier this week for anyone pursuing a degree in the country.
Yes, that includes Americans.
So, as Think Progress suggests in a recent piece, if you’re fed up with borrowing a huge amount of money as the trillion-dollar student debt burden in the U.S. continues to grow, maybe some German lessons are in order.
Also read: John Oliver on Student Debt: Our Leaders Have Decided Education Is Not Important Enough to Pay For
Think Progress:
German universities only began charging for tuition in 2006, when the German Constitutional Court ruled that limited fees, combined with loans, were not in conflict the country’s commitment to universal education. The measure proved unpopular, however, and German states that had instituted fees began dropping them one by one…Higher education is now free throughout the country, even for international students. [Tuesday], Lower Saxony became the last of seven German states to abolish tuition fees, which were already extremely low compared to those paid in the United States.
“We got rid of tuition fees because we do not want higher education which depends on the wealth of the parents,” Gabrielle Heinen-Kjajic, the minister for science and culture in Lower Saxony, said in a statement. Her words were echoed by many in the German government. “Tuition fees are unjust,” said Hamburg’s senator for science Dorothee Stapelfeldt. “They discourage young people who do not have a traditional academic family background from taking up study. It is a core task of politics to ensure that young women and men can study with a high quality standard free of charge in Germany.”
—Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
Wait, before you go…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Education
The Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act incentivizes states nationwide to provide inclusive, trauma-informed sex education in schools.
Education
The declines coincide with new limits on teaching U.S. history
Ear to the Ground
Will the Roberts Court overrule Biden’s signature executive action?
Education
Treating education like an industry instead of a public good has put the Florida governor in a tough spot.
Labor
Workers are hoping to reverse years of concessions and win big raises.
Educators in St. Paul, Minnesota, may walk off the job in March in an effort to shift the politics over what the public funds.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.