Demand for Bafög reform persists despite incomplete trend reversal in student funding - Shift in trend yet to be accomplished: Advocating for reform in Bafög system
In an effort to alleviate financial struggles faced by many students in Germany, the BAföG housing cost allowance has increased from 360 euros to 380 euros for the winter semester 2024/25. This change, part of the 29th BAföG Amendment Act, also includes income limits that have risen by 5.25 percent to make BAföG more accessible to a wider range of individuals.
However, the question remains as to whether this increase is sufficient to reverse the trend of declining recipients or if more comprehensive reforms are needed. Green MP Lea Heidbreder has expressed concerns about the adequacy of the latest BAföG reform, stating that it does not seem to be enough to achieve a trend reversal.
The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science recognises the need for improvement in state support for students, particularly in university cities where housing costs can be significantly higher. Heidbreder emphasises the need for BAföG to be oriented towards the real local rental costs in cities such as Mainz, Trier, or Landau.
The increased BAföG support has provided more financial relief to students, with the average grant in the winter semester 2024/25 being 651.58 euros. However, the number of recipients has not shown a significant increase, with slightly over 14,300 cases granted in the winter semester 2024/25, compared to around 16,500 in the winter semester 2019/20.
To address these challenges, Heidbreder calls for further reforms to make BAföG income-independent and secure a student's existence. This could involve holistic support, addressing issues such as tuition fees, student living costs, and support for students from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, reforms could aim to make BAföG more inclusive, ensuring that all eligible students, including international students, receive adequate support.
A one-time startup aid of 1,000 euros was introduced for first-year students under 25 from lower-income households. As of the introduction in Rhineland-Palatinate, the ministry has received 524 applications for this aid, with 380 approvals.
In conclusion, while the increase in BAföG support is a positive step, it may not be enough to reverse declining trends without addressing broader systemic challenges. Further reforms could be necessary to ensure that the support is both sufficient and accessible to all who need it, in line with Green MP Lea Heidbreder's call for BAföG to become a reliable support instrument for many students.
The community is calling for comprehensive reforms in the BAföG policy, not just an increase in vocational training funding, to address the declining number of students receiving financial aid. This includes making BAföG more oriented towards the real local rental costs in university cities, addressing issues such as tuition fees, student living costs, and support for students from diverse backgrounds (education-and-self-development, politics, general-news).
Furthermore, to ensure BAföG becomes a reliable support instrument for all eligible students, reforms could aim to make it more inclusive, providing income-independent support and addressing the needs of international students (community policy, vocational training, vocational training, vocational training).
