Cost cuts in education threaten society

The cost cuts in the education sector during the tenure of the present government are the most significant threat to the civil society, according to a survey report released on Tuesday.

The survey was commissioned by the trade union confederation Akava among the highly-educated professionals. The survey report said higher education, mutual respect, and an interest to cooperate for developing the society are the most important factors to develop a stable community.

The survey also listed social marginalisation and growing inequality as menaces to the Finnish society. About half of the respondents pointed out that at least one of these phenomena has impacts on social stagnation.

“The best medicine for growing inequality is education, and so that is where we should be allocating resources,” said Akava Chairman Sture Fjäder in a press release, adding that the decision makers from all stages should understand that cutting funding for the education sector will certainly lead to discrimination and marginalisation.

The respondents named education investments, security, and family welfare as the main preconditions for a civilised society.

“Success stories cannot be created without best quality training and research,” said education expert Ida Mielityinen, pointing out a recent report on the economic effects of higher learning that shows how university-level education helps people find employment more easily and be more productive as members of the society.

Kantar TNS conducted the survey in May through interviewing 888 members of Akava and 1,201 other people.