Italy - Students threaten protests over fee hikes for late finishers

ByLee Adendorff. Student groups are threatening protest action after the Italian parliament backed a law on 7 August that gives universities the power to raise the fees of students who are taking too long to complete their studies.
Students unions have called the law an outrage, and have accused the government of using fee increases to cover public funding shortfalls. The family income-tested fee increases will apply to nearly one in three Italian students, who fall into the large group of fuoricorso – students who fail to complete their studies within a given time limit. Union of University Students coordinator Michele Orezzi said: “Once again the public university is being violated…It is a grave attack on students that we will not let go by. We are ready for action, ready for an explosive autumn. We are ready for anything to defend our rights.”