- CDU organisations call for a fundamental reform of the Bafög
The Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT), the Young Union (JU), and the Ring Christlich Demokratischer Studenten (RCDS) are calling for a fundamental reform of the BAföG and German education financing. "The promise that education enables upward mobility is increasingly failing due to the financial means of young people, and the economic growth potential is coming under increasing pressure," they state in a joint resolution paper.
"Education in Germany is underfunded. The inadequate BAföG increase by the traffic light coalition exacerbates social inequality," said Lukas Honemann, federal chairman of the RCDS, to the German Press Agency. Therefore, the CDU must make education and, in particular, education financing a priority. "A education fund instead of 9.1 percent interest on the KfW loan helps with difficulties in education financing in all situations."
The two-page paper is available to the German Press Agency in Munich and is likely to be included at least in parts in the CDU's federal election program. The CDU's election program is scheduled to be completed by early January, provided the election takes place as planned in September next year.
Call for special location allowances
The vocational training funding needs a regular adjustment of the standard contributions, according to the paper. "The large regional differences in living costs must be taken into account through a location allowance." Despite the high inflation of recent years, the BAföG need-based allowances have not been adjusted since 2022. This, along with rising living costs, means that fewer and fewer young people can afford a university education.
At least for the upcoming winter semester, the traffic light coalition has increased both the basic needs and the housing allowance for students. In total, this results in an increase from 812 to 855 euros. The increase for schoolchildren came into effect on August 1.
National education fund and more scholarships
In addition, the three groups advocate for the establishment of a new national education fund. This should enable all citizens to finance education for the duration of vocational training, a university degree, or further education - regardless of income or assets. However, the money must be repaid in full after graduation.
To improve financing options, there should also be more scholarships from state and private institutions, according to the paper. The scholarships should be as unbureaucratic as possible and regularly adjusted to the inflation rate. The paper also mentions better interest conditions for student loans as the fourth pillar. "In particular, it must be ensured that interest rates do not become an existential risk for students," it states.
"The call for a national education fund by MIT, JU, and RCDS aims to provide financing for education for all citizens, regardless of income or assets," continued Lukas Honemann. "Adequate scholarships and better interest conditions for student loans are also crucial to improving education financing options."
