A student group from the University of Tokyo is protesting against a proposed tuition fee increase by submitting a petition with over 27,500 signatures. The university is set to make a final decision by the end of the month.
During a meeting with the university’s vice president, Hiroaki Aihara, the students presented their petition and requested a delay in the decision-making process. Aihara acknowledged their concerns and promised to raise them in internal discussions.
21-year-old senior Rei Kanazawa criticized the lack of student and faculty involvement in the three-year-long discussions about the tuition hike. The group is advocating for open dialogue and a postponement of the decision.
Faculty members have also expressed reservations about the increase, fearing its potential impact on other universities and calling for increased government funding instead. The university announced plans to raise fees by ¥100,000 ($706) for incoming undergraduate students in the next academic year.
It remains to be seen how the university will respond to the students’ plea for transparency and involvement in the decision-making process.
Translated by The Japan Times