SFS chairman Jacob Färnert signs Express debate about the need for student aid reform, inspired by the Norwegian government's decision to increase the Norwegian student aid by 10 percent.
The current level of Swedish student funding is inadequate. Students struggle to cover their basic costs. One in five students spends more than SEK 6,000 on housing costs per month, which is about half of their student funding.
40 percent of all students work extra to cover their expenses. This phenomenon is usually embellished by several political camps, but it does not fit well with the ambition of a knowledge nation. Among students who work 10-19 hours a week, almost 40 percent feel that work affects their studies negatively and a meager 15 percent think it affects their studies positively.
There is thus a clear connection between students' financial situation and their academic performance.
From a societal perspective, increasing student funding is therefore an investment in our country's future. It is worth considering that today's students are tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and community builders.
In Norway, the government has recognized this. They see the increase in student funding as a vital part of ensuring that students can pursue their studies without the constant worry of financial survival. Why would we in Sweden lag behind on this critical issue?
Read the full debate article at expressen.se.