Actually, in Finland they do. It’s a fairly regular argument with my Finnish friends who proudly proclaim “free” college. They get a little animated when I ask them about their tax rates though.
In Britain, they don’t. Nor France, etc. Scholarships are available but the college/university bound students are not a high percentage of the population. Do you know the percentage of students that go on to higher education in Finland? I know in Britain, it used to be about 5%.
PS-just fYI, when I worked in Britain in the 80’s, my tax bite was 50%. And that was the lowest tax bracket. Straight off the top, straight to the Government. Didn’t have to file.......I received a postcard once a year telling me what I had paid.
TANSTAAFL.