Croatian students demand free education

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/265592,croatian-students-demand-free-education.html


According to this article, Croatia offers free education from Kindergarten through PhD, but only for 40% of the population.  In 2009, a bunch of students from all of Croatia protested that 60% have to pay for their education. Apparently, if they get good grades, their education will be paid for.  But, the clincher here is a quote from Education Minister Dragan Primorac where he says "We want education in Croatia, from kindergarten to PhD, to be free, but only for those who deserve it..."  The part that worries me is his statement of "but only for those who deserve it."  How does he decide who deserves it and who doesn't?


Let's think of it this way, if he bases it on grades, then students who may have Learning Disabilities who try really hard, but can't get a good grade, will not have their education paid for.  This marginalizes many people if they decide only to provide free education for those who get good grades.


I think that the thing that worries me the most is that what if that 40% are all from rich families and the poor families are not provided with free education?  So, what if free Croatian education is classist (Where the poor are kept in their place by not receiving education because it is not free)?  I am going to have to look more into this because this peeks my curiosity to have free education up to a PhD.  That is a lot of money, and it would be awesome if it was for everyone.  So, I'll have to research who actually gets the free education.