Federal government approves raise in Bafög funding.
Education politicians Lina Seitzl (SPD), Laura Kraft (Greens), and Ria Schröder (FDP) expressed excitement after reaching a consensus on essential amendments to the Bafög structure reform. These changes will significantly impact students in the country.
Earlier, in March, the federal cabinet had settled on additional elements of the Bafög reform bill, which include a one-time study start allowance of €1000. The original bill's proposal did not entail an increase in regulation limits, causing dissent from student representatives and opposition parties like the SPD and Greens.
Coalition factions put forward a change proposal, and the cabinet agreed on a wording for it. Currently, the Bundestag is deliberating the altered version. The SPD faction predicts that the law will be passed in the Bundestag within the coming week, followed by the Bundesrat's approval. The bill will start implementing on August 1st with the beginning of the new training year.
Matthias Anbuhl, the managing director of the German Students' Union, declared this agreement as a "notable political statement." However, he asserted that these amendments weren't substantial to provide the hefty makeover Bafög requires. "This is a step in the right direction, but we still need more muscle, more backing for Bafög."
The Left Group's Bundestag representative, Nicole Gohlke, commented: "The outcome will bring minor enhancements, but given the current political climate, it's a negligible modification in comparison to a real trend switch. Perhaps the Traffic Light coalition still fails to grasp the magnitude of the situation, demanding more conciliation than this."
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The FDP's Ria Schröder was part of the education politicians who expressed excitement about the Bafög funding increase. The SPD faction in the Bundestag anticipates the passing of the Bafög reform bill within a week, which includes the FDP's approval. Matthias Anbuhl, from the German Students' Union, praised the Bafög increase as a political statement, but called for more significant changes. The Left Group's Nicole Gohlke criticized the minor enhancements as a negligible modification in comparison to a real trend shift, implying the need for more substantial changes in Bafög regulations.
