Dijkgraaf raps House of Representatives on the knuckles for unlucky students
The parties forming a coalition government are keeping a tight rein on the study interests of the so-called ‘unlucky generation’, who weren’t entitled to the basic grant for several years. “These students deserve a reliable government that can keep its promises,” writes outgoing minister Robbert Dijkgraaf.
The interest rate on student debt can be reduced for students who have missed out on the basic scholarship, a majority of the House of Representatives agreed just before the elections. To this end, the tax benefit for expats was curtailed.
Three options
To implement that lower interest rate, Minister Dijkgraaf outlined three options in December: reduced interest rates, an interest ceiling, or an annual fee. Make your choice, he wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives.
But they did not make a choice. In late March, Jan Paternotte (D66) attempted to get the House to take action. “The time will come next year when we will not be able to give the students of the unlucky generation what they were promised,” he said. “That is why we would like a debate.”
The coalition-forming parties PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB blocked a debate. They wanted a letter from the minister first, they said. We already have a letter, objected Paternotte, but that didn’t help.
Reliable government
Now his party colleague Minister Dijkgraaf is saying the same thing. He resent his December letter, noting “and I consider your request hereby granted.” Once again, he is waiting to see what the House wants.
He had already made it clear in that letter that there was some urgency to let the unlucky generation know where they stand in time, but the House did not respond. If parliament makes a decision on this, he will reschedule, he now writes.
“This will also provide clarity and certainty for students who studied under the loan system,” the minister said. “Because in addition to certainty, these students deserve a reliable government that can deliver on its promises.”
Basic scholarship abolished
In September 2015, the basic scholarship was abolished for new students in higher education, making studying several thousand euros more expensive. The four parties to this student loan system (VVD, PvdA, D66, and GroenLinks) have now reversed course.
In September 2023, the basic scholarship was reinstated. For the generation of so-called unlucky students, there is a small concession: €359 per missed year of basic scholarship. In the run-up to the elections, many parties also wanted to curb the interest on higher student loans.
But the scaling back of the expat regulation has come under fire from large companies such as ASML, which fear it will be harder for them to recruit employees from abroad. It could be that the coalition-forming parties want to roll it back after all. What will happen to student loans then remains to be seen.
