"After months of planning and negotiating, Jet Bussemaker, minister for
education, culture and science in The Netherlands, has struck an
agreement with two opposition parties on a bill that will convert
student grants into loans from 1 January 2015. The move will free up €1
billion (US$1.4 billion) from the state higher education budget. [...]
The Dutch National Union of Students and the European Students’ Union have condemned the move.
Today, Dutch students receive a monthly grant of €279 if they do not
live at home and €100 if they live with their parents. On average,
students work 11 hours a week over and above their studies, and have
accumulated €15,000 in debt when they graduate.
Under the new system, the unions argue, students will accumulate greater
debts or have to work more during their studies – and hence risk
prolonging the time-to-degree. [...]"
More on the
University World News site (Global Edition - 08 June 2014)