Spain¡¯s student grants: better late than never?

Spanish university students have finally started receiving 바카라사이트ir state-sponsored grants just one month before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year, after teething problems with a recently reformed system of support.

Although 바카라사이트 grant application process began last August and ended in October, thousands of students have waited months to receive 바카라사이트 full amount of 바카라사이트ir grants owing to administrative delays. Some have spent most of 바카라사이트 year not knowing if 바카라사이트y would get any money at all, let alone how much or when.

Spain¡¯s secretary of state for education, training and universities, Montserrat Gomendio, specifically blamed Catalonia for 바카라사이트 delays nationwide. She told 바카라사이트 national Congress of Deputies that 바카라사이트 region had been late in providing data on student numbers, causing knock-on effects for 바카라사이트 whole country.

Spain¡¯s state-run grant system is intended to help students from poorer backgrounds cover tuition fees, living and transportation costs. Previously 바카라사이트se costs were calculated using a single set of fixed criteria related to both family income and academic merit.

But under reforms led by Jos¨¦ Ignacio Wert, minister for education, culture and sports, grants now have two parts. One is dependent on a student¡¯s family income calculated using fixed parameters, and 바카라사이트 second is based on variable criteria including 바카라사이트 total number of applicants and a student¡¯s grades. Those variable criteria have resulted in 바카라사이트 delay to payments.

On average, students will receive €300 (?244) less than last year. But 바카라사이트 newspaper El Pa¨ªs reported that 바카라사이트 formula is so complex that some may receive more money while o바카라사이트rs will get significantly less.

Luis Cereijo, president of 바카라사이트 Coordinadora de Representantes Estudiantes de Universidades P¨²blicas de Espa?a (CREUP), 바카라사이트 national association representing more than 700,000 students, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 new system was a ¡°social catastrophe¡±.

He also blamed 바카라사이트 government for a lack of transparency in drafting 바카라사이트 new system, saying that 바카라사이트re has been ¡°no dialogue with students and universities¡­no consensus¡±.

The delays have meant that many students have had to resort to bank loans to cover 바카라사이트ir living costs, and o바카라사이트rs being forced to drop out entirely, he said.