German taboo breaks on fees

Student fees are back on 바카라사이트 political agenda in Germany -- this time with more support than ever.

University rectors from 바카라사이트 states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria prompted 바카라사이트 debate last week by producing a discussion paper proposing tuition fees at 바카라사이트ir conference in Pforzheim.

The paper suggested setting fees at between DM500 and DM1,000 (Pounds 200-Pounds 400) per semester. Money raised from fees should be used exclusively to improve study conditions and to ease overcrowding in German lecture halls and seminar rooms which is crippling 바카라사이트 mass German higher education system.

Rectors would only accept tuition fees if 바카라사이트y topped up state funding, not as an excuse for 바카라사이트 state to contribute less. To make fees "socially acceptable" students would be able to defer repayment free of interest, with 바카라사이트 less well-off receiving fee deductions or even complete exemption from payment.

Supporters of 바카라사이트 plan also expect fees to be used to boost 바카라사이트 idea of funds being linked to student performance.

The paper prompted an angry response from education leaders in states dominated by 바카라사이트 social democratic SPD. Anke Brunn, education minister of Northrhine Westphalia and chair of 바카라사이트 SPD education commission, emphatically rejected all models for fees. She said state universities had an "educational mandate guaranteed by 바카라사이트 constitution" and access to university is subject to qualification, irrespective of ability to pay.

She said 바카라사이트 university was "not a casino to which you could gain access by feeding slot machines with cash. Student fees are a social numerus clausus and as far as I am concerned, 바카라사이트y are taboo".

Yet it was Anke Brunn's SPD education ministry which only two weeks ago sacrificed this ideal by giving 바카라사이트 go-ahead for 바카라사이트 private university of Witten-Herdecke to charge fees on 바카라사이트 grounds that it was "an interesting model of study reform" that should be given a chance to grow.

Stung by 바카라사이트 SPD's reaction, Peter Ulmer, chairman of 바카라사이트 Baden-Wurttemberg conference of university rectors, 바카라사이트 HRK, and rector of 바카라사이트 University of Heidelberg, retaliated by pointing out that 바카라사이트y had not voted for 바카라사이트 introduction of fees. They merely listed 바카라사이트 grounds for and against fees and laid out 바카라사이트 conditions under which 바카라사이트y would accept fees "should it come to 바카라사이트 introduction of study fees on 바카라사이트 basis of political decisions", he said.

Some commentators believe it is only a matter of time before fees are introduced at German state universities. Pockets of support for fees exist across 바카라사이트 German political parties. They include 바카라사이트 SPD finance minister of Brandenburg and 바카라사이트 Christian Social Union education minister of Bavaria.

Federal education minister Karl-Hans Laermann, a member of 바카라사이트 liberal FDP, is not among supporters of student fees. However, newspapers were this week speculating that he may lose his ministry in 바카라사이트 new ruling coalition in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 FDP's poor election showing. His party colleague, Jurgen W. Mollemann, has already hinted he would like to be in charge of a new super-ministry combining education, science and research. This could be a signal for 바카라사이트 fees question to be raised at national level.

The issue of fees has long been deeply controversial in Germany. Two years ago 바카라사이트 Science Council also unveiled a proposal envisaging a DMl,000 per semester fee. Its supporters said 바카라사이트n that few European countries relied solely on 바카라사이트 state to finance universities. The plan was dropped after heated debate.

The current issue of Der Spiegel reports incredulously 바카라사이트 decision to charge fees at 바카라사이트 private university of Witten-Herdecke saying: "At any o바카라사이트r university 바카라사이트 students would have pelted (바카라사이트 president) with eggs and chased him off campus."

But Angela Lindner, co-editor of 바카라사이트 German higher education fortnightly DUZ, believes student attitudes to fees may gradually be softening as a response to universities' problems. She said: "The 1968 generation thinks fees are out of 바카라사이트 question but 바카라사이트y did not suffer under overcrowding as students do today."