Olmert mulls raising university fees as measure to fight poverty
By Tamara Traubman, 21/12/05

Finance Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said he is considering raising university and college tuition fees as part of the fight against poverty. Speaking at a conference held by the Treasury's budget division, Olmert said, "one of the options considered is to raise tuition fees at universities and colleges concurrently with increasing the benefits and scholarships offered to students from needy sectors."

According to the finance minister, differential tuition fees would allow the state to support students in genuine need of assistance with tuition fees, instead of subsidizing tuition for the general student public.

Olmert's proposal stirred harsh responses. MK Yuli Tamir (Labor) who promotes a program to fund tuition fees with special student loans, said "Olmert chooses to support an old-fashioned plan that encumbers students and the accessibility of high education for young people."

Former Meretz MK Yossi Sarid said, "Netanyahu left the Treasury but he is alive and kicking, only his name has changed to Olmert."

"Maybe Olmert doesn't know this, but the Israeli student is paying higher tuition fees than his colleagues in Europe. Whoever leads a policy of more expensive tuition disguised as 'differential' makes higher education affordable only to the rich," he said.

"Olmert's solution to the poverty problem by raising tuition fees would widen social gaps and would encourage the 'I deserve it policy,'" said Student Union chairman Gal Dai.

According to the Student Union chairman, "Olmert is trying to leverage his election campaign at the expense of the student public. Students in Israel work as security guards, waiters and wash floors [for a living], and it is simply preposterous to put forth a proposal that would encumber them more. I suggest raising taxes on cigars instead," he said.