The Government faces education crisis

• After four years in opposition, and four years of criticism of Kristin Clemet and her education policy, the red-green government promised to exert themselves in education and research.

• Half-way into the Government’s period in office, even the Government’s main supporters are joining the critical chorus, and academia is demanding Djupedal’s head on a plate. Where did the Government go wrong?

Elisabeth Bakke is an associate professor in political science at the University of Oslo (UiO), and a former public relations manager for Senterpartiet (SP), the Norwegian Center Party. She is very disappointed in the lack of funding to higher education and research.

– I was hoping to see more sensible education policies, but without funds there is nothing to be done, she says.

The dissatisfaction is shared by Atle Seierstad, professor at the Department of Economics and a member of Sosialistisk Venstsreparti (SV), the Socialist Left Party.

– The Government has expressed a positive attitude towards research, and so I am very surprised that the research investments remain low, he says.

Frank Aarebrot is an election expert and a professor at the Institute for Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen. He is also a member of Arbeiderpartiet, the Norwegian Labour Party. He too is very surprised.

– The Government’s policies when it comes to higher education is incomprehensible, he says, and adds that he is especially disappointed in last year’s budget cut on one per cent in funding for universities and colleges, and the fact that he is yet to see an increase in number of research fellow positions.

– The policies SV are pursuing can only be compared to the idea of Arbeiderpartiet removing the tax deduction for trade union dues, he says, and points out that SV is disappointing and alienating their voters.

– To a large extent, SV represents people with a higher education. It’s all very well to give funding to Kindergartens, but four-year olds do not vote. Research fellows do, he stresses.

– Incompetent Ministers

Student politicians, trade union leaders, spokespersons in academia and even SV’s own Olav Gunnar Ballo is publicly demanding that Djupedal resigns, and that more money is put on the table.

– It goes without saying that the Government as a whole must take responsibility for the policies they are enforcing, but it doesn’t help that one Minister is incompetent, Bakke claims.

Aarebrot, on the other hand, would like to take the focus away from Djupedal, and would rather point it towards the Minister of Finance, Kristin Halvorsen.

– Halvorsen is the Minister of Finance and the Party Leader. After all, Djupedal has been able to do a lot in the areas where he has received funding, and I refuse to believe that the Ministry of Education and Research alone is in charge of the cuts that has been made, he says.

– Never a win-win situation

Sources from the red-green parties say they are worried about the situation, but points out that the Government has been left with little room for action due to the Storting resolutions to focus on a maximum price scheme in day-care centres and the Knowledge Promotion Reform.

– If they had failed to implement the maximum price scheme, Kristin Halvorsen would have had to resign. If they had failed to implement the Knowledge Promotion Reform, Øystein Djupedal would have had to resigned, a source at the Storting tells Universitas.

– There are never any win-win situations in politics. The Government wanted to target Kindergartens and schools, says Inger S. Enger (SV), Member of the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs at the Storting (KUF).

Lena Jensen, committee colleague and representative for SV, adds that research and higher education is a top priority already, and refers to this year’s research budget on 2.4 billion kroner.

– We are very happy to have achieved a real increase, but we have even higher ambitions for the time ahead, she says.

Several sources from both SV and Ap are surprised that increases in last year’s Government budget didn’t receive more attention. The funding that was invested in education and research was overlooked and so, it drowned in the focus on unfulfilled promises. However, Jensen does not want to give any more definite comments on the Soria Moria declaration, other than that the Government has two more years to carry through their promises. Enger is more offensive.

– So far, other pledges made in the declaration have been prioritised, but now it is time to focus on research and higher education, and to continue to do so for rest of the Government’s time in office, she says.

The road ahead

We will soon know what exactly the Government has chosen to focus on, as the budget is published on Friday.

Bakke is not very optimistic.

– The pledges made in the Soria Moria declaration costs money. The main problem here is that no one in the Ministry of Education and Research really want to focus on higher education and research, she claims.

Aarebrot is disappointed on behalf of SV, who he feels is carrying the responsibility for the unfulfilled promises in the educational sector. Halvorsen’s opinion that the whole committee must be held responsible is something he disagrees with completely.

– There are two kinds of Ministers: The ones governing of their Ministries, and the ones being governed by their Ministries.

– It is time we get to know what exactly the Government plans to do when it comes to higher education and research, the way they have made promises to the schools and the kindergartens, says Aarebrot, and characterises today’s policies as «mistakes».

– The way things are going, SV should be prepared for another catastrophe election.

– Mutual responsibility

Minister of Finance, Kristin Halvorsen, is not ready to take on the responsibility for the situation.

– Aarebrot is mistaken if he believes that the budget is dictated by the Ministry of Finance.

– Are you denying your responsibility in this matter?

– No, I am simply emphasising that there is a mutual responsibility here. I have personally raised the issue of higher education in SV. The responsibility for these issues must be placed on the Government as a whole, and all three party leaders play a part, Halvorsen says, before indicating that changes will be made.

– There is a common understanding that higher education must be given more priority, she says.

– Do you regret the priorities that have been made?

– Fortunately, it is not too late to change course. However, it is important to keep in mind that we have been working on the 2008 budget since March, she says, crushing the hopes of those who are looking forward to Friday’s budget with expectations.