Long-study fine verdict expected on 25 July

The Dutch student unions held their pleas about the validity of the long-study measure in court yesterday. The unions filed a lawsuit against the Dutch state. The judge is now considering its final judgment. A verdict is expected on July 25.

The trail about the long-study fine, of three Dutch student unions ISO (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg), Landelijke Kamer van Verenigingen (LKvV) and De Landelijke Studentenvakbond (LSVb) against the Dutch state, attracted a lot of attention.  Many students attended the process. There was not enough room in court.

According the student unions the introduction of the long study fine, higher tuition fees for students who fall behind by more than one year, is unlawful. The lack of an adequate transition period and the consequences for part-time students are a thorn in their side.

State attorney Eric Daalder however argued that the fine was announced in 2010 already. He also said that part-time study programs do not exist and that it is an unofficial name for full-time studies that are offered in a different way. Part-time students do exist though.

“It’s really unacceptable that for many students that the rules have changed during the game,” said Pascal ten Have, president of student union LSVb before the trial, “students pay a fine for choices they have made while there wasn’t a long-study measure yet.”

Last week state secretary Zijlstra send a special law (spoedwet) to the House, in which he meets the part-timers’ problem. The adaptation says that part-time students who face a penalty for falling by more than one year can make use of a special fund of their institution. [MW/RW/transl. YV]