Kärt Kaasik-Aaslav, the head of the Student Union, spoke on the Kuku show "Sihik" about the anxiety among students as 2024 approaches, with threats of tuition fees looming over them. She emphasized the need for concrete and clear messages from politicians ahead of the parliamentary elections. For students from other regions, accessing education can be financially burdensome, as living costs add significantly to their educational expenses.

Kaasik-Aaslav discussed the challenges in higher education funding, pointing out that while previously budget cuts were noticeable in aspects like classroom heating, today, most students may not realize what they are missing due to a lack of financial resources. This highlights a broader issue of financial support for higher education, which appears to be stagnating despite increasing economic pressures and educational costs in Estonia.

In November, the Council of Rectors made a public appeal to the government, demanding fulfillment of previous promises and the establishment of a suitable funding model for higher education. The reality is that Estonia's investment in higher education remains at the levels of 2010, even as the economy and general education expenditures have risen significantly. This ongoing funding disparity raises questions about the future viability of higher education in Estonia, especially given the increasing living costs for students.