"Young people who enter university generally do not know how capable they will be," said Karis. "That means they need to have some money put aside in case they have to start paying the next semester. Many may decide to go where there is no fear," said Karis on ERR radio on September 26.

Karis said students are not very efficient during the autumn semester and only 25-30 percent of them fulfill the curriculum .

"Most students would have to pay for the next semester, in other words. I am not sure whether all young people are ready for this."

At Tallinn University, professor Mati Heidmets said he is worried about the worldview behind the reforms. Universities will be responsible for deciding less, he said.

"A bad side effect is that universities will become very dependent on ministries. It is no longer the most important thing to offer young people an education they are interested in but to get along well with ministry officials," he warned.

But Education Ministry department head Mart Laidmets pointed out that no one has forbidden part-timers from studying at the university and paying out of their own pocket.

"What they can't do is buy themselves past other, more apt candidates only thanks to the fact that they have money," said Laidmets.

He said universities are fully in charge of deciding how to use the money they receive from the state under the new performance-based agreements.

Kristopher Rikken