Row over ‘too low’ heating allowance for students

The German government has come in for criticism after announcing a once-off heating allowance for students on federal grants that is lower than that for recipients of housing benefits.

Soaring heating costs are a big worry in Germany, especially against the background of growing international tensions having a potential impact on the country’s natural gas supplies.

To alleviate the situation somewhat, the government has announced a once-off payment in June of €135 (US$150) for recipients of housing benefits, but only €115 for grant-holders supported via the federal grants and loans scheme (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz or BAföG). Also, unlike the other allowance beneficiaries, BAföG recipients have to apply for the money.

The German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk or DSW) calls this “incomprehensible”, given that students have to learn largely at home – and of course have to turn on the heating. Many students are already heading for their fifth semester with at least part of teaching still online.

“When it comes to the heating allowance, recipients of BAföG and those receiving vocational training support must not be turned into second-class beneficiaries,” say DSW Secretary General Matthias Anbuhl.

“There is no sound reason why they should receive €20 less than housing benefit recipients. Parliament has to remedy this as quickly as possible. All this also has a symbolic aspect for the young generation, who often feel overlooked in the pandemic. That students and trainees should come last mustn’t be the message the federal government is sending.”

Germany’s Federal Minister of Education and Research, Free Democrat Bettina Stark-Watzinger, emphasised in her maiden speech that BAföG would “be given a new boost”.

Stark-Watzinger said that the Social Democrat-Green-Free Democrat coalition wanted to make it “more flexible, attractive and modern, and above all more independent of students’ parental background. Education must not fail because of a lack of opportunities”.

Otherwise, regarding universities, her speech in January focused strongly on research excellence and on the swift transfer of research into practice via enterprise zones and the German Agency for Transfer and Innovation.

Student organisations are wary regarding prospects for improvements in support. The student union freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften (FZS) warns that investing in higher education must not concentrate solely on excellent research. Rather, broad government support has to be provided to boost teaching and learning conditions at institutions.

“Once again, students are being forgotten by decision-makers, as the maiden speech of our federal education minister shows,” commented FZS board member Lone Grotheer in January.

“Students are feeling the impact of the pandemic, and many are again losing income sources. We need federal government support for psychosocial counselling services and more financial support for students.”

Against this background, the government’s handling of the heating allowance for students could indeed give the wrong signal.

Contact Michael Gardner on e-mail: michael.gardner@uw-news.com