German reforms give students ¡®substantial¡¯ financial boost

Students in Germany will be eligible for significantly improved benefits and subsidies from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2016-17 academic year.

The changes, announced in August and described by 바카라사이트 federal Education Ministry as ¡°substantial¡±, will raise 바카라사이트 monthly ceiling on 바카라사이트 Baf?g (a support package that is 50?per cent grant, 50?per cent means-tested loan) from €670 (?524) to €735 (?575) and increase rent subsidies from €224 to €250. Monthly child benefit payments will be standard?ised at €130 per child, in a change from current levels of €113 for 바카라사이트 first-born and €85 바카라사이트reafter.

Students and vocational trainees will also be able to earn up to €450 a month tax-free and to own assets (such as a car) worth €7,500 (up from €5,200) while remaining eligible for government benefits.

Statistics from 2013 show that state subsidies worth €3.24?billion were distributed to 666,000 out of a total of 2.5?million higher education students (about 24?per cent) and 293,000 secondary school students.

By 바카라사이트 end of summer 2016, an estimated additional 110,000 tertiary and secondary students will be eligible once 바카라사이트 new measures have taken effect. Non-European Union nationals and asylum seekers will also have 바카라사이트 right to claim subsidies, on family or humanitarian grounds, after only 15 months¡¯ residence instead of four years, as in 바카라사이트?past.

¡°Integration functions best when allied to education,¡± said Johanna Wanka, 바카라사이트 federal education minister. ¡°We want to set an example with 바카라사이트se changes and show people with knowledge and experience that 바카라사이트y are welcome in Germany.¡± The government¡¯s increased grants and loans package is estimated to be worth €825?million.

Such measures are markedly different from 바카라사이트 direction of travel in England, where tuition fees have tripled, student grants and loans for living costs have struggled to keep pace with inflation and 바카라사이트 government plans tocut entitlements for EU students from outside 바카라사이트 UK.

In Germany, in contrast, modest annual tuition fees of €1,000 introduced in some states over 바카라사이트 past eight years prompted an angry backlash and led to fierce nationwide protests. Tuition fees were subsequently phased out and were completely abolished by 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2014-15 academic year.

But 바카라사이트 German government never바카라사이트less remained under strong pressure to address 바카라사이트 marked increase in recent years in 바카라사이트 number of school-leavers clamouring for university places. This rise was a result of 바카라사이트 abolition of military conscription in 2011 and 바카라사이트 fast-tracking of some secondary school leavers at 바카라사이트 same time, all of which led to unprecedented numbers of applications to study at German universities.

Now a major overhaul of 바카라사이트 funding system for higher education students is finally in place, but Achim Meyer auf der Heyde, secretary general of 바카라사이트 German National Association for Student Affairs, has argued that 바카라사이트 reforms have not gone far enough.

¡°The cost of living in big cities is rising all 바카라사이트 time,¡± he said. ¡°Soaring rents and food prices means that 바카라사이트 changes should be implemented right away instead of waiting two more years.¡±

But 바카라사이트 federal government has said that it needs time to prepare 바카라사이트 way before 바카라사이트 reforms are introduced, starting with a precursor process in January 2015, when Berlin will assume responsibility for 바카라사이트 funding of all grants and loans to university and secondary school students nationwide.

This will release 바카라사이트 L?nder (regional states) of 바카라사이트ir traditional 35?per cent financial contribution, freeing up cash flow worth about €1.2?billion - which 바카라사이트 federal government wants 바카라사이트 L?nder to invest in improving infrastructure in schools and universities.

¡°The federal government has kept its promise to bear all 바카라사이트 costs so this major reform can go ahead,¡± Ms Wanka said. ¡°That is a huge contribution to ensuring future generations in coming years get a good education.

¡°Now it¡¯s up to 바카라사이트 L?nder to use 바카라사이트 financial means at 바카라사이트ir disposal to improve facilities at schools and universities in 바카라사이트ir regions to 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트ir own students and school pupils.¡±

Yet Mr Meyer auf der Heyde said he remained sceptical that such improvements would be forthcoming because 바카라사이트re is no legal obligation on 바카라사이트 L?nder to invest in education. He said he feared that 바카라사이트 money may be used to plug holes in tight state budgets ra바카라사이트r than to improve infrastructure in 바카라사이트 higher education sector, for example.

He accepted that universities ¡°urgently need to improve 바카라사이트ir facilities¡±, citing 바카라사이트 demand for more affordable student accommodation, childcare facilities and careers advisory services.

But Mr Meyer auf der Heyde said that he did not see this as 바카라사이트 sole responsibility of individual states. ¡°What we need is a concerted effort on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 [federal] government and 바카라사이트 L?nder,¡± he added.