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Bafög reform in doubt? Minister Mohrs is 'severely irritated'
🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Bafög reform in doubt? Minister Mohrs is 'severely irritated'

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Lower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs expressed strong irritation over reports that the federal government might halt the Bafög reform.
  • Mohrs called such a move a "slap in the face" to students and a breach of trust after an agreement was reached.
  • The planned reform includes increasing the housing cost allowance and adjusting the basic Bafög rate to match basic security benefits.

Lower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs (SPD) is deeply concerned by reports suggesting the federal government may abandon its planned reform of the Bafög student financial aid system. Mohrs stated he is "severely irritated" by the news, calling any halt to the reform a "slap in the face" for countless students and a significant breach of trust.

That would be a slap in the face for many students and a breach of trust, after the promised reform was finally agreed upon.

— Falko MohrsLower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs criticizing the potential halt of the Bafög reform.

Mohrs, who also coordinates the SPD-governed "A-Länder" on the science ministers' conference, emphasized that his ministry had prepared all necessary steps for the Bafög reform and was on schedule. He expressed dismay at reports that government factions might no longer support the reform, despite an agreement seemingly being reached in late April during budget discussions.

We are severely irritated by the reporting on the possible end of the Bafög amendment.

— Falko MohrsMohrs expressing his strong dissatisfaction with media reports about the Bafög reform's uncertain future.

"We call on the Federal Minister and the Union faction to urgently uphold this commitment and not to let the young generation down," Mohrs stated in a press release. He highlighted that there is no wavering within the SPD parliamentary group, which has consistently emphasized the importance of Bafög.

My ministry has set all the wheels in motion for the Bafög reform, and we are also on schedule. However, I have also heard that the reform is no longer supported by the government factions.

— Dorothee BärFederal Research Minister Dorothee Bär explaining the situation from her perspective.

The coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD promised a "major reform" of Bafög. The initial phase included raising the housing cost allowance for students living away from home from 380 to 440 euros per month, effective for the upcoming winter semester. Subsequent steps planned to permanently adjust the basic Bafög rate to the level of basic security benefits by the winter semester of 2027/2028.

We call on the Federal Minister and the Union faction to urgently uphold this commitment and not to let the young generation down.

— Falko MohrsMohrs urging the government to stick to the agreed-upon Bafög reform.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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