ÖH sees the university conference’s proposal as an increase in pressure to perform and social selection during studies
Vienna (OTS) – Socially fair financing of students is a central concern of the Austrian Student Union (ÖH). We therefore think it is fundamentally good that the University Conference (uniko) is stimulating discussions in this topic with its proposal for basic security. However, this initiative is not an option for the ÖH. Sarah Rossmann from the ÖH chairmanship team states: “uniko’s basic security proposal is more of a bad publicity stunt than real financial support for students. For us, it contains unacceptable elements such as a 40 ECTS minimum limit, the abolition of subsidies and, at €1200, is still below the subsistence level. “So for many students this means continued wage work and even more pressure to perform.”
A central point of criticism is the abolition of study and family allowances provided for in the proposal. “As an ÖH, we are consistently committed to a socially just and well-developed aid system. Wanting to abolish this with a move that involves so many hurdles is a slap in the face to students who urgently need higher aid!”
, criticizes Nina Mathies from the ÖH chairmanship team. The ÖH has been demanding for years that study grants be raised to a level that is enough to live on.
Uniko’s proposal also provides for a partial repayment of basic security. Simon Neuhold from the ÖH chairmanship team: “The fact that parts of the basic security, like a loan, have to be repaid after completing your studies is out of the question for us as the ÖH. We are committed to support services that, on the one hand, are not linked to hurdles and, on the other hand, do not have to be repaid per se.”
Questions & Contact:
ÖH – Austrian Student Union
Samuel Hafner
Public Relations Officer
+43 699 10 51 85 67
samuel.hafner@oeh.ac.at
http://www.oeh.ac.at/