Education, including higher education, costs money, the question is who pays the bill
News about rising tuition fees resonates negatively with the public every year, which is why faculties would prefer the media not to report on it, even though journalists persistently point out that this is information of public interest and crucial for many families when choosing studies for future freshmen.
TL;DR
- Tuition fee increases are met with public disapproval, with media reporting on them as a matter of public interest.
- Tabloids have attributed responsibility for tuition fee hikes to the rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Đokić, and his associates.
- The actual decision-making power regarding tuition fees for self-financed students lies with the councils of higher education institutions, not university administrations.
- The state has shifted the responsibility for tuition fee decisions to faculties to avoid public backlash.
- Shortfalls in faculty funding have often been covered by tuition fees, sometimes leading to increased staff salaries paid for by students.
- Faculties with high enrollment demand tend to have higher tuition fees, while less attractive ones maintain lower prices despite objective costs.
- Students' past actions, such as blockades, resulted in the state refunding 50% of tuition fees for self-financed students and increasing higher education funding.
- Faculties are now allowed to increase tuition fees annually up to the average inflation rate.
- The state's plan to subsidize foreign universities is contrasted with the need to strengthen domestic higher education and offer free studies.