Organisation - February 28, 2013

10,000 fewer students

Abolishing the basic grant will cost higher education 10,700 students, not 7000 as stated previously. This is the result of new calculations by CPB, the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.

CPB was correcting its own figure, which was based on a three-year degree at a university of applied sciences, whereas an applied Bachelor's takes four years. The new calculations give a higher dropout rate. Jet Bussemaker, the minister of Education, is not impressed by the new figures. She says schoolchildren's aversion to borrowing should not be exaggerated. As far as she is concerned, the basic grant can still be abolished.