House votes in favour of cum laude and exit interview with dropouts

In a debate about students' mental health, the new coalition parties were heavily criticised. NSC says it is worried about students who drop out early and VVD speaks out on behalf of students who wish to excel. At the same time, they’re tightening the screws by introducing a fine for students who take longer to graduate.

Students who take more than one year longer to complete their studies will pay an additional 3,000 euros in tuition fees. According to critics, this would increase the pressure on those with a physical or mental disability. And what about informal care, elite sports and other good reasons for a delay?

Not a fine
The parties in the new cabinet dismissed everything out of hand. "We’ll see how the government will structure things", said NSC. "It’s not a fine at all," VVD countered.

Groenlinks-PvdA asked if it would be possible for the government to investigate what measures “can promote the livelihood of students at all educational levels and prevent financial stress. Out of the question, the new coalition responded.

Motions
The parties voted in favour of their own motions, which were also supported by opposition parties. The House of Representatives wants the new cabinet to have a sit-down with higher education institutions, as NSC proposed. The institutions must always have an exit interview with late dropouts amongst their students, in which they highlight the possibilities of resuming the programme. They must also provide a statement of the level and competencies achieved.

It remains to be seen when the cabinet will talk to the educational institutions about this. The hundreds of millions of euros in cuts are likely to be the first subject to be discussed at the meeting table, taking priority over details such as an exit interview for late dropouts.

A VVD motion also received a majority. Pursuing excellence should be a personal freedom, it reads. The government should call on educational institutions to keep honours programmes or cum laude graduation.

Conspiracy theories
However, a motion by MP Claudia van Zanten (BBB) failed to make it. She wanted the Inspectorate of Education to intervene in anti-Semitism cases in higher education and talked about an escalating situation. Even VVD and NSC couldn’t get on board with this.

Last week, Van Zanten was asked by D66 why her party would then support the appointment of a minister who voices national-socialist conspiracy theories. This concerned Marjolein Faber (PVV). “I’m not going to comment on that”, said Van Zanten, dodging the question.