Students exchange activities for free college tuitions

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Students exchange activities for free college tuitions

About 110 university students from around the country met in Kyoto on September 7 to share their experiences in the struggle for reduction of tuitions.

This was the first nationwide exchange meeting called by the "Tuition-Zero Net" since its establishment two years ago.

Participants confirmed that the organization's aim is to achieve "two zeros", a tuition-free education system and no more college students suffering from student loan burdens.

The "Zero Net" in Kyoto uses e-mail bulletins to talk about the various activities among students at different universities. Last fall, some students at a university that does not have a student union conducted a survey, responded to by about 500 students. This effort led to the successful holding of the "Zero-Tuition Rally" in Kyoto, attended by about 200 students.

In Osaka, based on a survey of about 300 students, a zero-net group petitioned the Suita City Assembly for reduction of tuitions. The assembly took up the petition and adopted a unanimous resolution calling on the national government to reduce university tuitions.

Kyoto's "Zero Net" representative Fukuda Ko stated that as expensive college tuitions emerged as one of the major issues in the recent general election, all political parties agreed on the need to introduce a free scholarship program.

Pointing out that as the result of the election, the majority of Dietmembers now believe that the government should take part in the International Covenant on Human Rights which calls for free higher education, he stressed, "The end of the government which forced students to shoulder high tuitions paves the way for their reduction and eventual elimination." "Now is the time to realize a society where everyone can receive education without being worried about the cost," he added.

- Akahata, September 8, 2009