Source: Ruhr-Uni Bochum
During its last session, Saarland state parliament decided to partially abolish tuition fees at Saarland University. Starting next summer term, students will no longer be forced to pay for their first degree (Erststudium), as long as they manage to finish it within the prescribed period of study. The state is said to finance the university’s loss of income.
But at the same time, state government (Greens, Liberals, Christian Democrats) plans to keep tuition fees for long-time students and for those who want to do get a second degree. The Greens had promised during the 2009 election campaign to abolish all tuition fees. The draft law has now been given to the science board of the parliament.
Social Democrats (SPD) and Leftists had brought a draft law of their own, intending to abolisch all tuition fees. SPD vice fraction leader Ulrich Commercon blamed the Greens for juggling. Science minister Christoph Hartmann (FDP) said that he does not see any protest from students against the decision to abolish only 90 % of the fees.
Comment:
Mr Hartmanns answer shows clearly that he obviously has (had) no contact to the students and their lobby. The resentment about this decision cannot be overheard. But for the FDP, the tuition fees apparently are only a minor subject: Their No. 1 Topic today is last Saturday’s “long shopping night”.
Both the FDP and the Greens seem to act according to the same principle: “The important thing is to participate in the government”. During the election campaign the Greens had promised to abolish the tuition fees – without any constraint, without any delay. Now they’re doing it, partially and months too late. They don’t change the system, they only set it back to step 1. What will happen in five years? The only thing remarkable about this breach of promise is that the Greens obviously don’t get punished for this, not even in the polls. The latest Saarlandtrend poll shows that they even got 1.1 % more votes than in the election. FDP remains stable, too, SPD recovers finally. The only losers of the poll (rightly): CDU and Leftists.
Tags: Campus toll, Greens, Jamaika, Tuition feesRelated posts
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