Petition against long-study fine presented to minister Eppo Bruins

A petition against the long-study fine is being presented today to the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Eppo Bruins. More than 131,000 students and supporters have signed the petition. They are calling for the abolition of the fine that students must pay in addition to their tuition fees if they take longer to complete their studies.

The petition, titled ‘Greetings with Your Fine’, sends a clear message and is a response to the new government’s plans to reintroduce the long-study fine. Students who take more than one extra year to complete their studies will face a fine of 3,000 euros on top of the standard tuition fees.

According to the petition’s signatories, the fine is unfair and places unnecessary pressure on students. ‘We’re hearing from more and more students that they are struggling to make ends meet,’ said Abdelkader Karbache, chairman of the National Student Union (LSVb), which supports the action. ‘After the reduction of the basic student grant, now the long-study fine is being added on top. Studying is becoming unaffordable. With this petition, we are showing that students have had enough!’

High Pressure on Students

According to the cabinet, the reintroduction of the long-study fine is intended to encourage students to complete their studies more quickly and to improve the flow through higher education. Minister Bruins has stated that the fine is necessary to keep the costs of higher education under control.

Opponents fear that the fine will disproportionately affect students from vulnerable groups. Furthermore, they argue that the mental and financial pressure on students is already high due to the current performance-based culture and student loan system.

No Doubts About Budget Cuts

The minister has agreed to accept and review the petition but has not made any concrete statements about potential changes to the plans. Previously, the minister expressed no doubts about the proposed budget cuts for higher education.

The petition is an initiative of BNNVARA, the National Student Union (LSVb), FNV Young & United, GroenLinks-PvdA, and De Marker.

_Advertentie.