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Fewer BAföG recipients: students in need! Causes and solutions.
The number of BAföG recipients in Rhineland-Palatinate is falling sharply. The causes are information deficits and bureaucratic hurdles.
Fewer BAföG recipients: students in need! Causes and solutions.
In recent years, a worrying trend has emerged in the education sector: the number of BAföG recipients in Rhineland-Palatinate is falling dramatically. Loud SWR In 2015, over 30,000 students and more than 10,000 schoolchildren received this important financial support. In 2024, however, there will only be just under 20,000 students and around 5,000 pupils, which corresponds to a decline of around 37.5 percent.
What is particularly noticeable is that requests for BAföG advice from the AstA of the RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau are also decreasing. Open discussions about student financing continue to take place every month, but interest is decreasing. Experts attribute this to the declining number of students and the numerous bureaucratic hurdles.
Few requests, big worries
Among students eligible for BAföG, 82.2 percent incorrectly believe that they are not entitled to the funding. Only 13.2 percent are aware of their eligibility, but have major concerns about excessive indebtedness and the often frustrating communication with authorities. In addition, many students are not informed about the essential rules for repaying BAföG. According to the study, 50 percent of those who do not submit an application because of fears of debt do not know the important repayment modalities.
Repayment of BAföG – what you should know
The repayment process for BAföG is also complex. Schoolchildren receive their funding as a grant that does not have to be repaid, while students at universities receive BAföG half as a grant and half as a loan in the form of interest-free loans. These loans must be repaid, with a maximum repayment cap of 10,010 euros, spread over up to 77 installments, which are due every three months BAföG.
Newer regulations state that students who receive BAföG from August 2019 have a maximum of 20 years to repay it. Repayment begins five years after the end of the maximum funding period. If the borrower's income is below 1,690 euros, payment breaks can also be requested. The corresponding Federal Administration Office in Cologne is responsible for collecting the loan portion.
Future of BAföG under discussion
The discussion about the future of BAföG is also growing louder. Experts suggest renaming BAföG in order to reduce stigma. Terms such as “scholarship system” or “student basic security” are brought into play, although the chances of success of these measures depend largely on accompanying reforms.
BAföG was introduced in 1971 to provide young people and young adults with financial support during their training. The changes in eligibility for funding, the amount of funding and the type of funding have since been closely linked to the family environment and have been regularly adjusted to keep the system attractive.
At a time when the cost of living for students - especially housing costs - has risen to a record level of over 500 euros per month, the need for a clear information policy and an adjustment to the BAföG system is becoming increasingly urgent. Exchange and a sense of community could, for example, be achieved through platforms such as Discord be promoted where users can communicate and network easily. But without basic funding, the question remains as to how many students can actually benefit from these communities.