Photo Guy Ackermans The Dutch government’s plans for higher education were announced on Budget Day. Students will be worse off, the slow student fine is making a comeback and the position of international students is in doubt. Fleur Buth of Skere Student on the impact of the plans on students.
Text: Youssef el Khattabi
Purchasing power: Students living away from home hit hard
Students not living at home in particular will be hit hard. Buth stresses that these students will already lose 160 euros a month because of the end of the purchasing power measure. ‘With an expected fall in purchasing power of seven per cent according to Nibud [National Institute for Family Finance Information], the fall compared to when the measure was in force could be as much as 200 euros a month.’
‘Lots of students are wondering how they can keep their expenditure under control now they will have less financial support. Experts say some of the more obvious ways of saving money are to cut down on subscriptions, avoid buying stuff you don’t need and look out for special offers.’
Slow student fine: Pressure on students
Another worrying issue is the possible reintroduction of the ‘slow student fine’, a measure whereby students who take longer to complete their degree than the nominal duration of the programme have to pay addition tuition fees of 3000 euros. This measure has led to a lot of uncertainty among students. Buth says it is unclear what the rules will be and what exceptions will be made, which is causing stress among students.
For example, students who chose a degree that isn’t right for them can get into problems. ‘Students who can’t afford the financial consequences will then have to finish a degree they don’t feel at all happy with; that could be one effect,’ says Buth.
DUO, the Education Executive Agency responsible for student financing, doesn’t know the details of how this measure will be implemented either.
Buth: ‘This is not the first time a government has included the slow student fine in its plans. The measure was discussed in 2012 as well, only then it got shelved following huge protests and the collapse of the coalition government.’
Internationals: Dutch language the norm again in teaching
The use of Dutch should be the norm again in education, said the King in his Budget Day speech. The number of foreign students needs to be reduced so education and research can ‘focus more on what the Netherlands needs’. King Willem-Alexander’s words reflect the Schoof government’s plans to combat the growing tendency of higher education to use English.
According to Buth, this policy could have major consequences for international students, who depend on degree programmes being in English. ‘Measures to combat the use of English could put foreign students off coming to the Netherlands, which would have an adverse effect on the diversity in Dutch education.’
Uncertain times
Uncertain times are ahead for both Dutch and international students given the 2024 Budget Day plans. ‘Students will be affected not only financially but also in their choice of degree and options for going to university. Many students will have to wait and see how the plans develop and whether amendments and a degree of leniency will be introduced to reduce the impact.’
