Education
Draft: No higher Bafög rates, but a “start-up aid”
The traffic light coalition raised the Bafög rate for students in the 2022/23 winter semester. photo
© Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
Around 1,000 euros will be given to needy students as “start-up aid” at the start of their studies. This is what initial plans for a Bafög reform provide for. There is criticism elsewhere.
The Federal Ministry of Education has presented a first draft for a Bafög reform – and is already receiving criticism for it. The draft bill does see a “Start-up aid of 1,000 euros as a one-off grant for students in need as well as an increase in allowances.
It should also be easier to extend your studies or change your subject without jeopardizing your Bafög entitlement. However, there is no mention of an increase in Bafög rates in the draft bill from the beginning of January.
Coalition should “step up significantly”
The deputy chairwoman of the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB), Elke Hannack, told the German Press Agency: “The bill for the Bafög amendment falls far short. We expect the coalition to step up significantly again in order to really reverse the trend as promised with Bafög.”
Inflation has largely eaten up the last increases in the requirement rates and allowances, said Hannack. “That’s why the standard rates for living expenses and housing costs must now be increased significantly.” For a real structural reform, at least an automatic inflation adjustment must be enacted into the law.
The SPD also sees a need for negotiations
The SPD education politician Oliver Kaczmarek said the draft contained many good elements. “If the Bafög amount is now adjusted to reflect increased living costs and a mechanism for regular adjustment of Bafög is added, then the picture is complete from the SPD’s point of view. We will negotiate this when we discuss the law thoroughly in Parliament in the spring.”
For the 2022/23 winter semester, the traffic light coalition raised the Bafög rate for students – it concerns basic needs – from 427 euros to 452 euros per month. In the coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP set out to “fundamentally” reform Bafög and make it more “parent-independent”. A more regular adjustment of allowances and requirement rates was planned.
Ministry of Education defends plans
On the subject of Bafög rates, a spokeswoman for the FDP-led Ministry of Education said that fully funded students who are entitled to child benefit receive up to 1,184 euros in state support per month. “According to studies, a large proportion of students only spend an average of 986 euros per month,” she explained.
“Not yet taken into account are other options such as scholarships, reduced-interest education loans or minor part-time employment, which are also not counted towards the Bafög up to the mini-job limit.” Bafög recipients who did not receive the maximum rate also benefited from the planned further increase in parental allowances, said the spokeswoman.
The cabinet is expected to consider the plans in February. SPD politician Kaczmarek expects the Bundestag to discuss this from April. The reform is scheduled to come into force in the winter semester of 2024/25. This Thursday, the Bundestag will consider a report from the federal government on the review of the Bafög requirements, which will shed light on the years 2021 and 2022.