19 May, 2012 - 15:03

"Scrap tuition fees for technical studies"

Technical university studies should be free, says the head of the technical industry employers' federation FME.

The move is necessary to prevent a shortage of science technicians, the FME’s Ineke Dezentjé Hamming says.
“A lack of science technicians is the biggest threat to the continued existence of the technology industry in the Netherlands,” the former MP of the pro-business VVD party warns. “I’m calling on the government to make a statement: recognise the social and economic importance of technical studies and scrap tuition fees for technical studies.”

“To overcome the economic recession, we must innovate. We must develop better products and processes, so we can compete with other countries. And that requires clever minds and we simply don’t have enough at present.”