Despite promises from the Prime Minister’s Office to the contrary, tuition costs in the nation’s colleges and universities will increase this year and student representatives are unwilling to take this without another fight. Student body leaders are signaling another strike is likely since the national government is not responding.

A student studying for a bachelor’s degree will be compelled to pay NIS 9,500 a year. The sum was to have been frozen by the cabinet, but this has yet to take place.

Student body representatives are accusing the treasury and the PM’s Office of intentionally deceiving them, realizing that now, as they begin handing out payment vouchers for students to begin the new academic year, many students are busy with exams while others are abroad, making massive protests less than likely.

Last Thursday, some Tel Aviv University students appeared at the Carmel Marketplace and ‘sold’ diplomas under the banner, “the government is selling out higher education” in the hope of making a point – that students are unable to obtain a higher education due to the increasing prohibitive costs.

“The time for diplomacy has ended” student union leaders explain, demanding the national government honor its agreement regarding tuition for the upcoming academic year.

Two years ago, the Winograd Commission addressed the cost of higher education, bringing annual tuition down to NIS 8,500. The discount was approved for the following year, and this year, the cabinet seems to be having difficulties doing the same. The cabinet’s inaction has resulted in the increase to NIS 9,500.

The student union leaders add they met with Education Minister Prof. Yuli Tamir, who promised to meet with the prime minister towards arriving at a solution, but to date, nothing appears to be happening.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)