The corona crisis is also hitting students in Germany hard. In addition to a regular course of study, many of them lack money, because bridging aids are by no means available to everyone.
By Johannes Doerfert, ARD-Hauptstadtstudio
Alone at home in the dorm room, without much contact with fellow students. Studying isn’t exactly fun at the moment. “The students sit isolated at home and hardly ever meet with their fellow students. If at all, then in pairs so that you can do a lecture or seminar together,” says Maria Rosenberger, who until recently studied herself. This exchange is somehow possible digitally, “but in the end everyone gets stuck in front of their computer and that is a huge strain on their nerves,” says Rosenberger.
And the student unions, whose advisory services are currently being overrun by students, are also noticing this. Help is sought in all areas: organizational, psychological, but also financially. According to a study, 40 percent of students have to get by on less money than a year ago, because the pandemic means for many: no more part-time jobs. And then either the savings are tapped or government support is used. These are available in the form of bridging aid and interest-free loans and are also well received.
Bridging aid does not always arrive
The German Student Union criticized: In some cases, students were not given the bridging aid because their financial distress was not due to the pandemic. This exacerbates a structural problem, namely student poverty. A problem that could become even bigger, because there are more people studying in Germany than ever before – according to the Federal Statistical Office, almost three million this winter semester.
The Studentenwerk therefore demands support. “The pandemic only exacerbates an investment backlog that we have been lamenting and accusing for years, “says Rolf-Dieter Postlep, President of the Studentenwerk. And now there are new tasks such as digitizing studies.
Studentenwerk demands 3.5 billion
The Studentenwerk is therefore demanding 3.5 billion euros for a university social pact with which dormitories and canteens are to be expanded and refurbished. Because there are many construction sites: The infrastructure must be made digitally fit – with sensible WLAN in the dormitories, and at the same time sustainable and as climate-neutral as possible.
In addition, the Studentenwerk is calling for a reform of BAföG: with higher rates and without being linked to the standard period of study. Because despite the increasing number of students, fewer and fewer of them would receive BAföG. And this help is urgently needed – for the time now in front of the screen, but also for the time after.
