EDUCATION will soon have to fine students who take long periods of time, suggests would-be minister Bruins

Hearings with potential ministers are a new tradition in the House of Representatives. Ebo Bruins, a former Christian Union MP and now the intended successor to Education Minister Robert Dijkgraaf, was also questioned on behalf of the National Security Council, on Thursday afternoon. He comes up with an interesting reading of the main lines agreement.

In this Approves PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB have agreed that students who are late for more than a year will pay an additional tuition fee of three thousand euros. This is called in jargon the nominal duration of study plus one year. A four-year bachelor’s degree can take five years and a one-year master’s degree can take two years. Then tuition fees will rise significantly.

fine

This measure should be seen primarily as a reduction, as the new coalition parties have already made clear. This means that educational institutions simply receive a lower contribution from the government and can recover this money from their students in the long run.

The question now is: He should to To be allowed to Do institutions impose this discount on students in the long term? The Bruins proposed the latter on Thursday. “As I read the framework agreement, the institutions’ contribution will decrease, so it is clear that the institution will actually demand a higher contribution from the student if he or she studies for longer than the nominal plus one,” he said.

With the previous late student fine from 2012 being canceled a few months later, Colleges and universities had no choice. The increased tuition fees are set by law.

Responsible institutions

In the Bruins Lecture, Hague is passing the hot potato to educational institutions this time. They can no longer hide behind the law in resolving the many dilemmas posed by the late school fine. For example, how do you deal with part-time workers? Is the transitional year considered an academic year? Above all: Do you want to spare students learning difficulties or with little money?

Bruins stressed that institutions must take the necessary measures themselves. According to him, they “have the responsibility to ensure that students obtain their degree within a reasonable period of time.”

D66’s Jan Paternot wanted to deal with the new minister immediately during the hearing. If we could make the cuts differently, is there still room for debate about a late student fine? Bruins suggested exceptions are possible, but he wants to talk about it with his officials first.

Young scientists

The intended minister received critical questions from the opposition about the research cuts contained in the main agreement. He explained that he would simply do so, just as the late student had done.

In response to a question about the possibility of layoffs among young scientists as a result of supporting the sector’s plans DisappearsBruins responded that there is a limit to how many young people can grow within a university. He said he wanted to make sure “scientists have a fair chance at a thriving scientific career.”

Internationals

What does he want to do as minister first? The Bruins didn’t have to think about this for long: “Addressing excessive internationalization.” His predecessor, Dijkgraaf, introduced a bill to combat the Anglicization of education. “I’m going to keep it going,” Bruins said.

By adopting the delicate Digitgraph Bill, it does not appear to be completely closing the door on foreign students. Although the bill also offers a lot room To take more stringent measures if necessary.

Academic freedom

The Bruins also want more stable funding for colleges and universities, so smaller courses can survive more easily. This is a widely shared desire in the House of Representatives. He also wants to continue the idea of ​​Dijkgraaf fans. He believes that vocational education is important: “We need professionals and that is what I want to work on.”

Regarding the pro-Palestinian protests, Bruins said he cherishes the freedom to demonstrate. Earlier in the session, he affirmed: “As minister I will protect the rule of law, protect freedom of education, protect academic freedom, and protect freedom of the press.” “I support that and will not budge one inch.”