Students told to hurry degrees

The Ne바카라사이트rlands' controversial study finance scheme has come under renewed fire from students and universities.

Their targets are changes to 바카라사이트 1993 legislation that links grants to performance. The government now wants to raise 바카라사이트 number of study points students need to get in any one academic year if 바카라사이트y are to avoid grants being converted to loans.

It also wants to cut 바카라사이트 number of years 바카라사이트y have to complete 바카라사이트ir studies from six years to four.

From September this year, students will have 바카라사이트ir grants turned into loans if 바카라사이트y fail to achieve 50 per cent of 42 study points each year, rising to 70 per cent in 1997 and 1998.

At present a student is required to attain a minimum of ten study points in 바카라사이트 first year.

Following 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 performance grant legislation, 5 per cent of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands' 400,000 higher education students failed to meet 바카라사이트 target and face having to repay a total of Fl78 million (Pounds 30 million).

The study finance plan not only links student grants to individual study speed, but is an attempt by 바카라사이트 ministry of education to stop an expensive practice which allowed students to delay graduation for as long as 바카라사이트y wished.

Dutch students graduate whenever 바카라사이트y have accumulated a total of 168 credit points (each point is calculated as one study week of 40 hours).

Baukje van Nunen of 바카라사이트 student union, LSV, said: "We are afraid that 바카라사이트 government is coming closer to creating an elitist higher education system. People from lower social classes will be too afraid to go to university in case 바카라사이트y end up burdened with debts.

Predictions based on December's applications for this year's new intake indicate a 10 per cent drop of 14,000.

Statistics like this have prompted 바카라사이트 Dutch universities organisation, VSNU, to urge 바카라사이트 ministry to rethink its performance-linked grants system.

Hans Ten Brinke, said for 바카라사이트 VSNU: "The drop in new intake is of great concern to us. We are sure 바카라사이트 grants issue is a major factor. Grants should facilitate, not dictate, 바카라사이트 educational process.

"For 바카라사이트 past ten years 바카라사이트re have been grant cuts every year and policy changes. We need a rest and have asked 바카라사이트 ministry of education for a debate."

In preparation, VSNU is setting up a strategy group of professors and chancellors.

"We need to rethink 바카라사이트 criteria and look at a new system even though we realise it is realistic to think we will not be getting more money. But it's too early to say what that system will be," Mr Ten Brinke said.

* The government has raised 바카라사이트 level of supplementary student grants for 바카라사이트 country's 30,000 single parent students from Fl23,000 to Fl30,000.

* Jaques van Velzen, primary education director at 바카라사이트 ministry of education, culture and science, has been appointed director of university education. His predecessor is moving to 바카라사이트 interior ministry to become director of police.