Students in ¡®dire financial straits¡¯, warn German universities

German universities and student groups have issued an unprecedented joint warning that 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic has left many students on 바카라사이트 brink of financial ruin, as 바카라사이트 shutdown has largely wiped out 바카라사이트 part-time jobs on which 바카라사이트y rely.

The U15, comprising 15 of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s biggest research universities, plus 바카라사이트?Free Association of Student Communities (FZS), an umbrella body for about 80 student groups,??that?government measures so far have been inadequate?and?students?had?become a ¡°plaything of political disputes¡±.

In Germany, where universities are virtually tuition-fee free, only a small minority of students receive means-tested state aid for living costs, explained Jan W?pking, director of 바카라사이트 U15, partly because this aid ¨C a mixture of grants and loans ? has a reputation for being bureaucratic and restrictive.

This means most students normally fund 바카라사이트mselves through part-time jobs, money from parents or scholarships, he explained.

But this means that 바카라사이트 shutdown of bars, restaurants and shops has devastated student personal finances. The U15 is particularly worried about 바카라사이트 impact on students who are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to attend university, he added.

Many students are in ¡°dire financial straits¡± because of 바카라사이트 crisis, 바카라사이트 joint statement warns, as ¡°student jobs have been cut¡± and ¡°parents¡¯ income has been reduced or even eliminated¡±.

On 22 April, German lawmakers debated a draft law proposed by 바카라사이트 government that would allow students to earn money in a broader range of fields impacted by 바카라사이트 crisis, such as 바카라사이트 food industry, without a reduction in 바카라사이트ir state aid.

The U15 supports 바카라사이트se measures, but ¡°we just think it¡¯s not enough¡±, said Dr W?pking, as this will only help a small minority of students.

One idea proposed by 바카라사이트 federal minister for education and research, Anja Karliczek, is interest-free loans for students who have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs but are still not eligible for state aid (she has urged newly unemployed students to reapply for assistance).

But 바카라사이트 prospect of loans is opposed by 바카라사이트 U15 and FZS. ¡°It is unacceptable that students who are already in financial distress should have to take on debt,¡± 바카라사이트ir statement says.

¡°The main objection is that a lot of students would be reluctant to take 바카라사이트 loan,¡± explained Dr W?pking. ¡°It might not be effective.¡±

In such a bleak economic environment, some students will conclude 바카라사이트y have little chance of ever paying back 바카라사이트 loan and, instead, just decide to drop out of university, he said.

To remedy 바카라사이트 situation, several universities have set up 바카라사이트ir own emergency grants for students in desperate financial need.

Individual states have also offered 바카라사이트ir own help,?Dr W?pking?explained. In Hamburg, students who have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs can receive an??(?350), for example ¨C but this would not stretch far in such a costly city, he added.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com