Parties to the loan system lose majority
Whatever the cabinet, higher education can face many political compromises. At least four parties are required for a majority in the House of Representatives.
The final results of the elections have yet to arrive, but one thing is certain: the new House of Representatives looks very different from the previous one. The four parties of the loan system ('student loan system') together have just lost a majority.
The VVD loses eight seats and the PvdA only has nine of its 38 seats left. GroenLinks (from four to fourteen) and D66 (from twelve to nineteen) are winning big, but not enough: the four of them would now have 75 seats, just short of a majority.
Demanding piece
The abolition of the basic grant was a rigorous measure that met with great resistance and nevertheless passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate: a political feat. Such an enormous intervention seems impossible in the new political landscape.
So the basic grant will not make a comeback.
VVD and D66 will most likely join the new cabinet and they will certainly not reverse the reform of student finance.
Even if there is a new government without the VVD (for example CDA, D66, GroenLinks, SP, PvdA and ChristenUnie), it will still include three parties from the loan system coalition.
Concessions
But if the basic grant does not return, fierce opponents of the loan system want to see something in return.
Parties such as CDA, ChristenUnie and SP will perhaps demand a reduction in tuition fees: that will have almost the same effect as the reintroduction of the basic grant. They can also argue in favor of an increase in the supplementary grant: after all, it is about the accessibility of higher education?
Extreme measures are not to be expected for the time being. Much more money for higher education?
There will be money - enough to keep D66 happy - but it won't be a shocking amount. There are too few parties that want that.
Major reforms in the participation of colleges and universities? First let's see how things are going now that the participation councils have been given extra power. Selection at the gate of courses? Supporters and opponents will balance each other. And so it will be on many files.
Point of contention
The main point of contention will be the 'quality agreements': colleges and universities must in one way or another (continue to) improve their education, especially if they receive hundreds of millions extra thanks to the abolition of the basic grant.
But what will those agreements look like? Nobody knows. The VVD would like to make firm agreements again, just like in previous years, but it is fairly alone and will - yes - have to make a compromise.
