The Senate does not understand much about halving tuition fees
From government parties to opposition, senators in the Senate have many questions about a bill that Minister Van Engelshoven is in a hurry: halving the tuition fees for first-year students.
Picture: Senate
The four parties of the coalition reached a compromise: the basic grant will not return, but tuition fees for first-year students will be halved. Second-year students of teacher training courses also receive this discount.
But just like the Council of State and the House of Representatives, the senators in the Senate also feel that the compromise is in the way, their written questions show. What is actually the idea behind this measure, the parties want to know.
No problem
The VVD kicks off. Since the introduction of the loan system, which caused a dip, the intake in higher education has increased again. Also in teacher training. 'Now that accessibility does not seem to be a problem, the question is what problem will be solved with this bill.'
And if the government is halving the tuition fees of second-year students in teacher training courses, why not the tuition fees for second-year nursing students? And why then does the government not increase tuition fees for courses with few job opportunities? This involves a structural EUR 173 million and the question is whether this money will be spent efficiently.
Now that accessibility does not seem to be a problem, the question is what problem will be solved with this bill
There are also doubts on the left side of the political spectrum. The SP writes: 'Reducing tuition fees seems like a sympathetic gesture. Who can be against that? All students of the coming year will benefit from this. But if we zoom in a little further, it soon becomes clear that this does not address the real problem: the large differences between students have been exacerbated by the loan system.'
pension
The SP points to the increase in the interest on student debts. Students who borrow a lot will soon pay the bill for students who do not have to borrow much. "Why has the government not opted for a more specific measure, for example by increasing the supplementary grant?"
GroenLinks and the SGP also ask such questions. D66, PvdA and ChristenUnie agree with the questions from other parties. The practical objections are also highlighted: are all systems ready or is there actually too little time to implement the measure?
There is really no time for such reflection. The halving should take effect in September, which is why the ministry is speeding up the bill. All questions from the House of Representatives were answered in a flash and the Senate will probably not have to wait long either.
Beauty prize
Despite all the criticism, a large majority of the House of Representatives agreed with the bill, under the motto 'better than nothing'. It is therefore doubtful whether the senate will stop the halving of tuition fees. But in politics, no one seems to believe that this bill deserves the beauty prize.
