anyone Who tries hard can make it. No matter where he or she comes. This is the Central promise of the Social market economy and the principle of equality of opportunity. No other law translated this promise into a tangible right to claim as the Federal training assistance act – short-Bafög. The aim of the Bafög was from the beginning, to pave more young people a way to study and to decouple individual educational opportunities by social origin.
However, the former education law, number one always loses more and more substance. Only 18 percent of the students reached the Bafög 2016, four years earlier, there were still 24 per cent. Ironically, when the first academics, the funding rate fell from 40 to 27 percent dramatically. This is not only due to the better economic situation. The Bafög is considered many parents as a high-earner on the paper. The practical financing problems does not solve.
Not part of a parental need for community
full-year students are independent individuals and not part of a parental needs of the community. You should have the freedom to self-determine the way of your education. Admission to the program must not depend on the support of power or willingness of the parents. Special financial problems of the students, their parents, for a Bafög-support to earn a lot and for the maintenance of too little today. Students who nixed the Bafög-amendment received, on average, only 319 Euro monthly support of their parents. Even if you keep law, more money, sued the own parents. This makes time-consuming part-time jobs a necessity. 40 percent of the Non-Bafög recipients to work at least ten hours a week in part-time jobs, often much longer. They are not covered in the previous Bafög completely through the Grid, a fatal injustice.
Jens Brandenburg, spokesman for the study, training and life-long Learning of the FDP group in the Bundestag.Photo: Wolfgang Kumm/dpa
More than a year, Anja Karliczek on your first bill wait. He is a revelation are the weary, the Minister of education. After years of large-scale koalitionären inaction, they shall submit a long-overdue compensation for inflation. Andrea Nahles praised the cynical as “the largest Bafög-Reform for a Long time”. The black-and-red sleeping car and the illusive redistribution fantasies of the Left to paralyze the debate on the future of the Bafög is already too long. With a structural, but in the short term, that can be financed reform proposal, we want to bring Free Democrats new momentum in the debate. We do not promise more money for the few, but finally solid funding opportunities for study for all.
A parent that is independent, modular Bafög
We propose a parent-independent modular-Bafög, which is as flexible and digital as the reality of life of the students. 200 euros a month, students under the age of 25 automatically. This base amount replaced the previous children’s allowance or allowance for the parents of full-year students. Instead, the amount will be paid directly to the students. With a further 200 Euro, we support personal Engagement. Who takes over ten hours a week in a part-time job, voluntary work, the upbringing of children or care of close relatives responsibility for themselves and for the society that receives this grant. The possibility of a flexible, interest-free and in good income repayable loan complements these blocks. This also allows for a short-term financial protection.
The Bafög-application is simply made via a Smartphone App. The few of the necessary evidence to be uploaded as a photo. The students-the App checks the entries automatically and immediately notifies the height of the Bafög entitlement. Months of planning uncertainty, and paper forms good-bye.
Twice as many students as in the past, would receive the new Bafög grant. What is true for social advancement, for political reforms, right: anyone Who tries hard can make it. We have the courage to Bafög-Reform, which allows young people a self-determined course of study without financial hardships. It is high time for a parent that is independent of Bafög.
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study funding for The semester fee as a hurdle
Rabea C. Westarp
The author is the spokesperson for the study, training and life-long Learning of the FDP group in the Bundestag.
